Departmental Policies (Essex)

Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Maldon and East Chelmsford constituency, the effects on Maldon and East Chelmsford of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Maldon and East Chelmsford since 2 May 1997.
	In order to achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. A school sport partnership involving four School Sport Co-ordinators and 23 primary Link teachers is based at great Baddow High School in Maldon and East Chelmsford. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Maldon and East Chelmsford have benefited from 13 Sport England lottery grants totalling £3,018,773, including two awards worth £504,000 in total from the £108 million investment in innovative sports facilities through the Active England programme.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England East grants increased from £4.7 million to £7.7 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England investment in the East of England will be £8.3 million. Maldon and East Chelmsford has benefited from grants to arts projects, organisations and individuals, including Aldeburgh productions and Essexdance.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Maldon and East Chelmsford will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Maldon and East Chelmsford also benefits from museums initiatives such as Renaissance East of England whereby it's Hub partner Colchester Museums will provide expertise and fund 60 per cent. of a new initiative to improve access and build new local audiences.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	Our support for, and promotion of, the film and broadcasting industries have contributed to the general success of film-making and television activity in the Maldon and East Chelmsford area. The UK Film Council has supported a number of film-related enterprises in the Chelmsford area—including £20,000 for a new feature film production set and filmed in Essex; £8,000 funding to the Boreham Millennium Trust to support moving image education and £2,859 to Chelmsford Film Club to enable local audiences to view a wider choice of films.
	The feature film 'The Lawless Heart' was set in and filmed in Maldon, directed by two local filmmakers. The film, which received £200,000 from the UK Film Council's Interim Production Fund, was released in 2001 to international acclaim.
	Many other productions have been filmed in and around Maldon and East Chelmsford, such as the BBC's 'The Murder Game'; Granada's 'Medieval Monarchs' and the feature film 'Rules of the Game'.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Maldon and East Chelmsford with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 5,205.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11 pm on new year's eve to 11 am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Maldon and East Chelmsford, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Maldon and East Chelmsford has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including the East of England Development Agency. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Maldon and East Chelmsford.
	English Heritage has awarded grants worth £647,014 to buildings and organisations in Maldon and East Chelmsford since 2 May 1997, including:
	
		
			 Building/organisation Amount (£) 
		
		
			 St. Mary's redundant Church, Mundon 45,229 
			 St. Leonard, Southminster 4,113 
			 St. Mary the Virgin, Woodham Ferrers 8,000 
			 St. Nicholas, Tillingham 152,400 
			 Creeksea Place, Burnham-on-Crouch 23,272 
			 St. Nicholas, Little Braxted 53,000 
			 Maldon District Council: Southminster Heritage  Regeneration scheme 45,000 
			 Maldon District Council: Maldon Conservation  Area Partnership Scheme 316,000 
		
	
	In common with all of those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Maldon and East Chelmsford constituency are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million lottery grant. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.
	The Department has been an energetic advocate of the community and informal learning value of public libraries. Essex county council has recognised this value and has undertaken various initiatives such as the ASK CHRIS project to encourage reading and lending across the county's public libraries. The project received a £67,000 award from the DCMS/Wolfson Foundation Public Libraries Challenge Fund in 2000–01.
	Information from the national lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Maldon and East Chelmsford has benefited from 169 awards totalling over £8.9 million. Of these, 21 awards worth over £1.7 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Departmental Policies (Haltemprice and Howden)

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Haltemprice and Howden constituency, the effects on Haltemprice and Howden of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Richard Caborn: Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Haltemprice and Howden since 2 May 1997.
	In order to achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. There is currently a school sport partnership involving one School Sport Co-ordinator and one Primary Link teacher in Haltemprice and Howden. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Haltemprice and Howden have benefited from five Sport England lottery grants totalling £351,449.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England Yorkshire and the Humber grants increased from £6.7 million to £21.3 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England Yorkshire and the Humber investment in regularly funded organisations will be £23.4 million. Haltemprice and Howden has benefited from grants to arts projects, organisations and individuals, including Word Quake, a rural literature development agency that works throughout libraries in East Riding.
	Young people in Haltemprice and Howden benefit from the Humber Youth Music Action Zone, known as Music4U. The Action Zone covers the East Riding of Yorkshire council, Hull city council, North East Lincolnshire council and North Lincolnshire council and is coordinated by the National Centre for Early Music. Music4U was set up in September 2001 and has so far been awarded three grants totalling over £760,000. It has already reached over 15,000 children and young people, 85 per cent. of whom were first-time participants.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Haltemprice and Howden will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Haltemprice and Howden with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–4 was 5,615.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11pm on new year's eve to 11am on new rear's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Haltemprice and Howden, a greater say in regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Haltemprice and Howden has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including Yorkshire Forward. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Haltemprice and Howden.
	English Heritage has awarded grants worth £770,564 to seven projects in Haltemprice and Howden since 2 May 1997, including St Michael's Church, Skidby; Sts Peter and Paul Church, Howden; and the Howden Historic Environment Regeneration Scheme.
	In common with all those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Haltemprice and Howden constituency are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million lottery grant and which has put all the United Kingdom's public libraries on-line. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.
	The Department has been an energetic advocate of the community and informal learning value of public libraries. East Riding of Yorkshire council has recognised this value and undertaken initiatives such as "Word on the Street" to initiate and develop positive attitudes to reading in young people aged between 11 and 16 and raise their awareness of the value and relevance of the modern library service. DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund 2000–01 awarded £75,982 to this project. Of this money, £25,000 funded a website geared to the needs of young people across East Yorkshire, including Haltemprice and Howden.
	Information from the national lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Haltemprice and Howden has benefited from over 190 awards totalling over £4.1 million. Of these, 20 awards worth over £1.7 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Departmental Policies (Tatton)

Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Tatton constituency, the effects on Tatton of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Tatton since 2 May 1997.
	In order to achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. A school sport partnership involving four School Sport Co-ordinators and 25 Primary Link teachers is based at Wilmslow High School in Tatton. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Tatton have benefited from seven Sport England lottery grants totalling £804,000.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England, North West grants increased from £7.6 million to £19.6 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England investment in the North West will be £28.4 million. Tatton has benefited from grants to arts projects, organisations and individuals, including Cheshire Rural Touring Network and the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Tatton will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Tatton also benefits from museums initiatives through the Cheshire Museums forum. Tatton Park, a National Trust property and registered Museum, was part of a successful bid from the Cheshire Museums forum to improve learning in Collections care. The forum also received £11,900 from the Museums Development fund to support a series of workshops to develop staff skills.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	Our support for, and promotion of, the film and broadcasting industries have contributed to the general success of film-making and television activity within Cheshire. Two companies based in Knutsford have received lottery funding for development work.
	Since April 2002 the job of promoting local locations, crews and facilities to visiting production companies has been carried out by North West Vision. In particular Tatton Hall and Park has been used extensively as a location for films and television dramas such as Granada's 'The Forsyth Saga', 'Island at War' and 'Coronation Street'.
	Many other productions have been filmed in and around Knutsford such as Blue Blood (BBC3), Spine Chillers (BBC3) and the new feature film of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Local crew and facility companies are promoted through North West Vision's online production database and published production guide. 50 per cent. of Cheshire's freelancers live in the district of Macclesfield and over 25 per cent. of film facility companies are based in the borough.
	Since 2002 Cheshire has facilitated 78 productions generating 501 filming days.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Tatton with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 5,770.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11 pm on new year's eve to 11 am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Tatton, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Tatton has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including the North West Development Agency. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Tatton.
	English Heritage has awarded grants worth £736,208 to five projects in Tatton since 2 May 1997, including the Anderton Boat Lift, Belmont Hall in Great Budworth, Quarry Bank Mill in Styal, the Lion Salt Works and St. Michael and All Angels in Little Leigh.
	In common with all those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Tatton are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million lottery grant and which has put all the United Kingdom's public libraries on-line. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.
	The Department has been an energetic advocate of the community and informal learning value of public libraries. Cheshire council has recognised this value and has undertaken various initiatives such as the Fully Booked project to encourage reading among people across Cheshire, especially those of 65 plus who visit day centres and those with special needs. The project received an award for £30,348 from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund in 2000–01.
	Information from the national lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Tatton has benefited from over 150 awards totalling over £6.9 million. Of these, 19 awards worth over £245,000 were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Departmental Policies (Woodspring)

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Woodspring constituency, the effects on Woodspring of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Woodspring since 2 May 1997.
	In order to achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. A school sport partnership involving five School Sport Co-ordinators and 35 Primary Link teachers is based at Wyvern in Woodspring. To achieve our challenging targets for increase participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Woodspring have benefited from ten Sport England Lottery grants totalling £2,218,978.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England, South West grants increased from £4.3 million to £12.2 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England investment in the South West will be £14.1 million. Woodspring has benefited from this increased funding to arts projects, organisations and individuals.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Woodspring will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	Our support for, and promotion of, the film and broadcasting industries through the work of the Regional Screen Agencies have contributed to the general success of film-making and television activity outside London. Last year 24 productions were shot in Somerset adding £333,000 to the local economy, including Woodspring.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Woodspring with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 6,085.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11pm on new year's eve to 11am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Woodspring, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Woodspring has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including South West Regional Development Agency. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Woodspring.
	English Heritage has awarded grants worth £57,885 to five buildings and organisations in Woodspring since 2 May 1997, including Tickenham Court, Clivedon and the Nailsea Glassworks, Nailsea.
	In common with all of those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Woodspring constituency are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million Lottery grant and which has put all the United Kingdom's public libraries on-line. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.
	The Department has been an energetic advocate of the community and informal learning value of public libraries. North Somerset council has recognised this value and as part of a consortium (including North Somerset, Somerset County and the Unitary Authorities of Bath and North-East Somerset and South Gloucestershire) took part in an initiative called Foursite Internet for a new Era the result of which was the installation of 24/7 phone lines, internet access by mobile phone and a web catalogue system, which was shared across the consortium. Libraries in Woodspring benefited from this project which received a total award of £147,750 from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund in 1998–99.
	Information from the National Lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Woodspring has benefited from over 176 awards totalling over £9.3 million. Of these, 21 awards worth over £1.4 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Parliamentary Questions

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2004, Official Report, column 166W on correspondence, when she will provide a substantive reply.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Media and Heritage has written to you today with further details on this decision, enclosing a copy of English Heritage's advice. The Department has now received English Heritage's advice. It advised that this telephone box does not meet the listing criteria. After careful consideration of the evidence and of this advice, the Secretary of State concurred with English Heritage and decided on 19 January not to add this building to the list. The listing applicant has been informed of this.

Social Exclusion (Midlothian)

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contribution the lottery has made to combating social exclusion in Midlothian.

Estelle Morris: Lottery distributors are required to take into account the need to reduce economic and social deprivation in making awards.
	It can be difficult to determine precisely the extent of their contribution to reducing social and financial exclusion but a significant number of lottery-funded projects have helped to regenerate inner cities, create employment and strengthen communities. Since the lottery began there have been 298 awards made to Midlothian, totalling £16.5 million.

Sports Clubs

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in promoting the tax relief benefits available to sports clubs.

Richard Caborn: Over 2,000 sports clubs have already received an estimated total of £5 million in tax reliefs by registering as Community Amateur Sports Clubs with the Inland Revenue. But many more clubs are still missing out because they do not know that this help is available.
	My Department has therefore published "Growing Community Sport", a leaflet publicising the CASC scheme. I have sent copies to many of my parliamentary colleagues, and hope that they will make use of this leaflet to tell their constituents about the benefits available to sports clubs. They can obtain extra copies by contacting the DCMS.

Asian Tsunami

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to recover documents lost by British citizens as a consequence of the tsunami in South East Asia; and what steps are being taken to prevent identity fraud.

Chris Mullin: The nature of the disaster was such that many documents will never be recovered, but arrangements are in place to deal with those documents that are recovered. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overseas posts are maintaining a high level of vigilance against document fraud in close liaison with the United Kingdom Passport Service.

Colombia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of (a) Colombia and (b) Venezuela regarding the dispute over the arrest of FARC member Rodrigo Granda.

Bill Rammell: We have not had specific discussions with the Colombian or Venezuelan governments on this issue, although it has been touched on during regular contacts between our embassies and the respective governments.
	The two countries recently issued a communiqué stating that the dispute has been resolved. We understand that the Venezuelan ambassador to Colombia has now returned to his post in Bogota. We are pleased that the two countries appear to be committed to a swift diplomatic resolution of the crisis.
	Presidents Uribe and Chavez met on 15 February to formalise the resolution to the dispute.

Common Foreign and Security Policy

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the objectives of the Government are in relation to a common foreign and security policy in the European Union.

Denis MacShane: The Government continue to work to develop a more effective and proactive EU common foreign and security policy capable of tackling key international issues and security threats as well as being able to react rapidly and appropriately to crises. The Government's objectives in relation to the EU's common foreign and security policy in 2005 are set out in paragraphs 64 to 87 in the White Paper titled "Prospects for the EU in 2005" (Cm 6450). Copies are available in the Library of the House. The Government have made a commitment to keep Parliament informed of their priorities/objectives across the range of EU business through the regular publication of these White Papers.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 30 December 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. M. Abbas.

Chris Mullin: My hon. Friend the Minister for Europe (Mr. MacShane) replied on 19 January 2005 My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary sent a further update on 10 February 2005.

Cuba

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of people in Cuba who are (a) serving prison sentences and (b) awaiting trial for political reasons.

Bill Rammell: The Cuban Government does not acknowledge the existence of political prisoners, nor does it disclose the number of those awaiting trial. Our Embassy in Havana maintains contact with a number of civil society groups that monitor prisoner numbers and conditions within these constraints. One of these, the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation estimates in its January 2005 report that there are currently 294 prisoners who are either serving sentences or awaiting trial for political reasons.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often since 1997 (a) he, (b) officials in his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have (i) brought and (ii) sought to bring the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for discussions in the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The Security Council recognised the severity of the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in its Presidential Statement (1998/26) of 31 August 1998. Since that date the situation in the DRC has been regularly on the Security Council agenda. The Security Council's most recent statement was published on 7 December 2004.
	The UK plays an active role in these discussions. We strongly support the UN Peacekeeping Force and the UN's work in helping implement the peace agreements in the DRC and across the region.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Joint Committee (EEC-Estonia) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The EU—Estonia Association Committee met once a year until Estonia joined the EU in May 2004. During the period of the Italian, Irish and Dutch Presidencies (June 2003—December 2004) it met once in June 2003, in Talinn. An official from UK Permanent Representation to the EU attended.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Joint Committee (EEC-Latvia) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The EU—Latvia Association Committee met once a year until Latvia joined the EU in May 2004. During the period of the Italian, Irish and Dutch Presidencies (June 2003—December 2004) it met once in June 2003, in Riga. An official from UK Permanent Representation to the EU attended.

European Constitution

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 935W, on EU Constitution Treaty, from which budget within his Department the cost of the Commentary on the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe was met.

Denis MacShane: The cost of producing the Commentary on the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe was met by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Europe Directorate.

European Constitution

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effect of Article III-305 of the European Constitution, concerning a common UK/EU position with Cyprus and Malta on Commonwealth meetings.

Denis MacShane: The EU is not and cannot be a member of the Commonwealth. If the Constitutional Treaty comes into force, the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs could only present the position of the EU at a Commonwealth meeting if the EU had been invited to attend. In such circumstances he/she would speak for the EU. The UK would continue to represent itself as a Commonwealth member.

Genocide (International Obligations)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what obligations there are under international agreements to act in confirmed cases of genocide; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Under Article 1 of the Genocide Convention 1951, the Parties undertake to prevent and punish the crime of genocide whether committed in time of peace or war. Under Article 5, they undertake to provide effective penalties for persons guilty of genocide or genocide-related crimes, and Article 6 provides that persons charged with such acts shall be tried. In addition, in Article 7, the Parties 'pledge themselves . . . to grant extradition' in cases of genocide or genocide-related crimes.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Gibraltarians are being held in Spanish prisons; in which prisons they are held; what visits have been made by councillors or Embassy officials to these individuals in the last five years; how and how regularly the British Embassy in Madrid informs the Gibraltarian authorities of developments in these cases; and which trials councillors or Embassy officials have attended in the last five years.

Chris Mullin: There are 12 British passport holders with connections to Gibraltar being held in Spanish prisons, two in the Madrid consular district, and 10 in the Malaga consular district. Of these, nine have been visited in accordance with Consular Prison visits Policy. The other three have declined consular assistance.
	Consular staff in Spain aim to contact British Nationals within 24 hours of being informed of an arrest, and to make a visit within 48 hours. Unless prisoners have said that they do not wish to be visited, Consular staff at British posts should aim to visit all detainees whilst on remand at reasonable intervals as deemed necessary by the Consulate/Embassy. Thereafter, one visit is made after sentencing. Further visits are normally only made if a real need arises (family, health, social problems, etc).
	Consular staff are not trained to give legal advice and do not routinely attend court hearings.
	There is no requirement for consular staff to inform the Gibraltarian authorities about the arrest of British Nationals with connections to Gibraltar. However, Consular staff do normally inform the Gibraltarian authorities as a matter of courtesy. If the prisoner wishes, Consular staff will also keep family informed.

Iran

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) Iran's current nuclear capability and (b) the future progress of its nuclear programme.

Denis MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for East Devon (Mr. Swire) on 25 January 2005, Official Report, column 236W.

Iraq

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate his Department made of the percentage of the adult population of Iraq that was registered to vote.

Bill Rammell: Preliminary estimates indicate that over 85 per cent. of the adult population were registered to vote in the elections on 30 January.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what part officials from UK Government departments have had in the (a) management and (b) monitoring of reconstruction funds in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: As a Coalition partner in Iraq the UK Government was a member of the Programme Review Board (PRB), established by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to enable emergency or unanticipated extra-budgetary spending requests—including for reconstruction projects—to be brought to a joint Iraqi-CPA body for assessment and authorisation. A senior UK Government official attended PRB meetings on behalf of the UK. Minutes of the PRB are available online at http://www.cpairaq.org/budget/program review board.html.
	The UK was also instrumental in setting up the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB), to oversee the auditing of Iraq's oil revenues and their management by the Coalition in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1483 of 22 May 2003. UK officials had no direct role in the monitoring or auditing of reconstruction funds in Iraq. The auditing function of the CPA was carried out by officials and professionals supplied by other members of the Coalition, who worked alongside the firm of international auditors employed by the IAMB to undertake the audit of CPA management of the Development Fund for Iraq on behalf of the IAMB.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will submit a declaration to the United Nations Security Council, in pursuance of Paragraph 23 of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 (1991) of 8 April 1991, formally to end sanctions against Iraq.

Bill Rammell: Comprehensive sanctions against Iraq, as imposed by UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 661 (6 August 1990) and amended by subsequent relevant resolutions, were lifted by UNSCR 1483 (22 May 2003). However, the Security Council has continued to judge the situation in Iraq a threat to international peace and security. UNSCR 1483, passed in 2003, retained an arms embargo, with certain exemptions; imposed a freeze on assets outside Iraq of the former Iraqi regime and certain associates, and an obligation on member states to transfer these funds to the Development Fund for Iraq; and prohibited trade in stolen Iraqi cultural property.

Mobile Phones

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of staff mobile phone bills was in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The costs of staff mobile phones for the years 1996–97 to 1998–99 are set out in the table. Since April 1999, budgets have been devolved to individual Foreign and Commonwealth Office Departments. Information from this date could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		Cost of staff mobile phones years 1996 to 1999
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1996–07 169,357 
			 1997–08 190,199 
			 1998–09 290,011

Northern Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by (a) the UK and (b) the EU to help with preparations for the application of the EU acquis to northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Following Cyprus' accession to the EU, as a divided island, the application of the acquis was suspended in the north pending a settlement. Help in preparing for the application of the acquis in the north is therefore an important component in facilitating a settlement. The Government's ultimate objective remains a just, viable and lasting settlement for the benefit of all Cypriots.
	Since May last year, the European Commission has provided limited assistance to Turkish Cypriots through its Technical Assistance Exchange Office programme, which we welcome. The objective is to bring Turkish Cypriots closer to the European Union. We also support efforts in the EU to obtain agreement on the Commission's package of proposals for financial aid to and direct trade with the north of Cyprus.
	The British Government are themselves funding a small number of projects in north Cyprus under the "Re-uniting Europe" programme within the Global Opportunities Fund. (More information on these can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: fco.gov.uk>Programmes>Global Opportunities Fund). These projects are designed to help the Turkish Cypriot community to prepare for reunification and full participation in the EU. Our efforts are in line with EU commitments and will, we believe, help facilitate a future settlement.

Northern Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which EU member state diplomats attended the Turkish National Day celebrations hosted in northern Cyprus by the Turkish Ambassador to the TRNC; what representations the Republic of Cyprus made on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: I am unable to comment on the attendance of other member states at this event, but my hon. Friend could contact the Turkish Ambassador to the self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" directly about this.
	The British High Commissioner attended last year, in line with practice for at least nine years. The Republic of Cyprus made several representations to express their concern. We took every effort to reassure them that attendance in no way constituted recognition of the "TRNC", on which the Government's policy of non-recognition is well-known and absolutely firm. Attendance was part of our efforts to promote a Cyprus settlement through engagement with both sides.

Russia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of levels of xenophobia and anti-Semitism in Russia.

Bill Rammell: Reports by NGOs and in the media about prejudice and violence against minorities in Russia are concerning. These reports indicate that racially motivated crimes against black, Asian, Caucasian and Jewish people in Russia appear to be increasing. One report from the Sova human rights centre in Moscow suggests that the number of racially motivated deaths in Russia increased from around 15 in 2003 to at least 44 in 2004.
	The growth of extremist neo-Nazi and skinhead organisations is another concerning development. A report by the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights estimated that, at the end of 2003, there were 50,000 skinheads across Russia, mainly concentrated in the larger cities such as Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.
	While reports of growing anti-Semitism in Russia continue, Jewish groups agree that there is no state-sponsored anti-Semitism in Russia and President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated sympathy for Jewish interests. However, prejudice remains common and reports of sporadic attacks on Jewish buildings and individuals continue.
	The Government's position on such issues is well known: we condemn all forms of discrimination and are committed to countering intolerance at home and abroad as an integral part of protecting and promoting human rights.
	To help combat racism and xenophobia in Russia the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has funded a one-year project to assist NGOs representing ethnic minorities in the regions. We are also co-funding an ambitious project to bring ethnic minority NGOs and the police together in different regions to develop strategies for tackling racism and discrimination. A further project, started in 2003, provides legal support and takes on strategic litigation to protect the rights of the Roma community.

South Africa

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of South Africa about the promotion of democratic reform in Africa.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed governance, which included democratic reform, with South African, Foreign Minister Dlamini-Zuma, during the UK-South Africa Bilateral Forum on 25–26 August 2004. Good governance is one of the five key areas of the work of the Commission for Africa which my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Secretary of State for International Development have discussed with the South African Government on several occasions in recent months.

Sudan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army's reaction to the Sudanese army's actions on 8 December 2004 in the Thabit area near El Fasher; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The report of the UN Secretary General on the Sudan notes that there was renewed fighting between government troops and rebel forces, including the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) around Thabit on 7–8 December, and that the "SLA withdrew when attacked in many of these cases." The report goes on to highlight continued breaches of the ceasefire by both sides. We are maintaining sustained pressure on Khartoum and rebels to show restraint in the face of provocation, comply with UN Resolutions and their own commitments, and to reach a political settlement.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur.

Chris Mullin: The report of the International Commission of Inquiry (ICI) was released to the Security Council on 31 January. The report concluded that the Government of Sudan, the Arab militias and the rebels are all guilty of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, which may amount to crimes against humanity and/or war crimes. The report found no evidence that the Government of Sudan has pursued a policy of genocide in Darfur, although a "competent court" will need to decide whether certain individuals have done so. The report stresses that the crimes which have taken place in Darfur "may be no less serious and heinous than genocide" and recommends that the crimes should be referred to the International Criminal Court.
	The ICI has given the UN Secretary General a list of suspects it believes may have perpetrated these crimes, and recommends that he pass this list to a competent Prosecutor. The UN Security Council is united in their determination that there can be no impunity for these crimes and will be discussing the next steps over the coming days.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the capability of the African Union mission in Darfur to fulfil its mandate.

Chris Mullin: We fully support the African Union (AU) mission in Darfur. There have been some delays in deployment, but the AU now have more than 1,900 personnel on the ground. We and other donors have worked hard to help the AU overcome the logistical problems that they have faced in Darfur, by providing financial assistance, planning support and equipment. Where troops are equipped and on the ground they are playing a strong role, not only in monitoring, but also in defusing tensions; negotiating release of hostages; and offering protection to aid convoys. We note that the latest report by the UN Secretary General highlights the positive difference the AU are making in Darfur, particularly in facilitating the movement of humanitarian relief, preventing the escalation of violence, defusing tensions and providing security. The UN Secretary General goes on to state that
	"the presence and pro-active initiatives taken by the AU mission have surpassed expectations."

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Government of Sudan's progress in implementing his Five-Point Plan for Peace within the agreed three months.

Chris Mullin: On 6 October 2004, the Government of Sudan gave its commitment to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister that they would co-operate with the African Union (AU) mission; provide the location of militia forces and confine these forces to barracks, if the rebels would also do so; conclude the Compressive Peace Agreement by the end of the year; and to implement the Abuja Humanitarian Protocol.
	The Comprehensive Peace Agreement was concluded on 31 December 2004, and formally signed on 9 January in Nairobi. The Government of Sudan have provided the location of their forces to the AU and are co-operating with the ongoing expansion of its mission. However neither the Government of Sudan nor the rebels have confined their troops to barracks. We welcome the improvement in humanitarian access from six months ago, as stated by the UN Secretary General in his latest report on Darfur. But it is still very poor, and we continue to be concerned that the security situation means that aid cannot be delivered to all that need it. We have made clear that security must improve and the ceasefire violations must stop. We are strongly pressing both sides to abide by the Abuja protocols.

Sudan

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the security situation in the east of Sudan;
	(2)  what discussions he has held with the Government of Sudan concerning its actions in relation to the unrest in the east of the country.

Chris Mullin: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 9 February 2005, Official Report, columns 1557–558W.
	Our embassy in Khartoum raised these incidents with Beja Congress leaders on 30 January 2005, and with the Government of Sudan on 31 January 2005.

Sudan

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will urge the UN to define the atrocities committed in Darfur as genocide;
	(2)  if he will urge his colleagues in the EU to define the atrocities committed in Darfur as genocide.

Chris Mullin: The UK pressed for the establishment of an expert International Commission of Inquiry (ICI) by the UN to investigate the atrocities in Darfur, and determine whether genocide had been committed. The ICI's report, issued to the Security Council on 31 January 2005, concluded that while the Government of Sudan had not pursued a policy of genocide in Darfur, a "competent court" would need to decide whether certain individuals had done so, and that the Government of Sudan, the Arab militias and the rebels are all guilty of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, which may amount to crimes against humanity and/or war crimes.
	We are now discussing with EU partners and Security Council members how best to take forward the ICI's recommendations.

Sudan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings (a) he, (b) officials in his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have (i) proposed, (ii) scheduled and (iii) had since 7 January with members and representatives of the governments of (A) Argentina, (B) Benin, (C) Brazil, (D) China, (E) Denmark, (F) France, (G) Greece, (H) Japan, (I) Philippines, (J) Romania, (K) Russian Federation, (L) United Republic of Tanzania, (M) United States and (N) Algeria, (1) regarding the situation in Darfur, (2) regarding the Report of the Secretary-General on the Sudan pursuant to paragraphs 6,13, and 16 of Security Council resolution 1556 (2004), paragraph 15 of resolution 1564 (2004) and paragraph 17 of resolution 1574 (2004) and (3) regarding the use of the International Criminal Court to prosecute war crimes committed in (X) Darfur and (Y) Sudan in general; when each of these meetings took place; what specific proposals were (V) proposed and (W) accepted; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We have regular discussions at all levels with our fellow members of the UN Security Council regarding the situation in Darfur. Following the publication of the report of the International Commission of Inquiry, which recommended referring those accused of war crimes in Darfur to the International Criminal Court, we are actively discussing the way forward with our Security Council partners.

Treaty Articles (Court Cases)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those organisations in receipt of European Communities funds that have brought actions against the European Commission relating to interpretation of treaty articles at the European Court of Justice since 1997.

Denis MacShane: The number of such bodies who could potentially bring actions against the Commission is very large, including public or private bodies (such as industrial cooperatives and farmers) in any or all of the member states. The Government does not hold records of such actions taken against the Commission, which could be referred to the European Court of Justice by national courts in any member state as well as brought directly by the organisation.

Whistleblowers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 38W, on whistleblowers, what monitoring of whistleblowing cases in the European Communities his Department undertakes.

Denis MacShane: The Government naturally takes a close interest in any public comment on the financial or personnel management of the EU institutions. And it is in frequent dialogue with the European Commission on a wide range of administrative matters.
	The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigates all allegations of fraud involving EU institutions which come to its attention, including cases where whistleblowing is involved. In its most recent activities report, relating to the period between 1 July 2003 and 30 June 2004, OLAF for the first time provided information on the different sources of information it receives which lead to investigations. OLAF stated that in June 2004 it had five active cases (out of 511 active cases in total) where the primary source of information was a whistleblower. No new enquiry based on whistleblowing has been opened in the meantime.
	Further information about OLAF and its reporting can be found on the following website: http://europa. eu.int/comm/anti fraud/index en.html
	As I stated in my answer to the hon. Member of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 37W, the Government took an active part in formulating the European Communities Staff Regulations, of May 2004, which offer whistleblowers what we consider to be a comparable measure of protection to that enjoyed by UK officials in Crown Service. The Regulations provide a complaint mechanism for EU officials: to date, no complaint has been lodged concerning the whistleblowing procedures.
	The Government will continue to follow closely this aspect of the EU institutions' efforts to protect their budgets against fraud.

Aircraft Charters

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much money his office has spent on chartering aircraft in each of the past five years.

Alan Milburn: The Duchy of Lancaster office has not spent any money on chartering aircraft.
	Travel by Ministers makes clear that special flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air, but the requirements of official or parliamentary business or security considerations or urgency preclude the journey being made by a scheduled service. In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government has published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list published in 1999 covers the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Where RAF/Private Charter aircraft are used this is shown in the list. The Government has also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2004–05 will be published in due course.
	All Ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers".

Overseas Trips

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by his Department in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip.

David Miliband: The total cost of all overseas travel and overseas air travel for the Cabinet Office from 1997–98 to the financial year 2001–02 is shown in the following table.
	
		Total cost of overseas travel
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 327,583 
			 1998–99 491,682 
			 1999–2000 495,381 
			 2000–01 779,187 
			 2001–02 1,020,505 
			 Of which:  
			 Total cost of overseas air travel  
			 1997–98 288,796 
			 1998–99 425,472 
			 1999–2000 428,206 
			 2000–01 682,139 
			 2001–02 912,006 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide a further breakdown of costs as the information is not collected in the format requested, and to do so would incur disproportionate costs.
	Due to a change in the way that travel costs are recorded, it is not possible to extract the overseas travel costs from the total cost of travel for 2002–03 without incurring disproportionate costs.
	The way in which the data on overseas journeys is recorded does not enable us to extract the number relating to each year without incurring disproportionate costs.
	All official travel in the Department is undertaken strictly in accordance with the rules contained in the Cabinet Office Management Code. All ministerial travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Catering

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many departmental (a) canteens and (b) bars there are; and how much has been spent on the (i) running, (ii) staffing and (iii) supply costs of each in each year since 1997.

Christopher Leslie: "Departmental canteens and bars" is taken to mean facilities provided primarily for use by the Department's staff. This approach is consistent with the definition used in previous questions.
	(a) My Department has operated a staff canteen at its London Headquarters, where there is a concentration of staff, since 1997. Visitors to the building also use the facility.
	The catering service is contracted out and income from sales is used to offset the cost to the Department. There is, however, a need for a subsidy, the cost of which is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Subsidy (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98  
			 1998–991/2 The records for these years contain 
			 1999–2000 associated costs, which cannot be 
			 2000–01 separated out. The subsidy could only 
			 2001–021/2 be identified at disproportionate cost. 
			 2002–03  
			 2003–04 106,049 
		
	
	(b) There are no departmental bars.

Domestic Violence Trials

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will take steps to prevent personal cross-examination of victims by an alleged domestic violence perpetrator in (a) Crown court trials and (b) family court proceedings.

Christopher Leslie: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 13 December 2004, Official Report, column 872W). There are no plans at present to legislate to prevent cross-examination of a witness by a defendant in the criminal court, or by a respondent in the family court.
	Section 36 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 already gives the court discretion to prevent cross-examination by a defendant in person in criminal proceedings, if it appears to the court that the quality of the evidence given by the witness is likely to be diminished by such examination. The wide discretion afforded judges in hearing family proceedings gives them sufficient powers to ensure that victims can be protected from intrusive and unfair questioning by the respondent in family proceedings. They can offer assistance in how questions are framed and evidence is presented. The judge also has an inherent power to refuse to admit evidence at a trial if he considers that it is in the interests of justice to do so.

Ministerial Stationery

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much has been spent on official ministerial (a) business cards, (b) headed paper and (c) compliment slips in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: My Department has spent the following amounts on ministerial stationery in the last two years. No central figures are held prior to April 2003 and to obtain them would incur a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 1 
		
		
			 Business cards 267.75 535.50 
			 Headed paper 1,145.80 242.20 
			 Compliment slips 91.50 61.00 
		
	
	(3) The figure for financial year 2004–05 is a year to date figure to the 8 February 2005.
	The reduction in expenditure in the 2004–05 year to date figure for headed paper is due to the introduction of electronic templates.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether cattle in the early pre-patent stage of bovine tuberculosis may shed significant numbers of infectious organisms and thereby contribute to the spread of the disease by cattle to cattle spread.

Ben Bradshaw: It is rare for cattle in the "pre-reactor" stage of bovine tuberculosis (TB) (when the animal is not yet able to react to the skin test) to excrete Mycobacterium bovis.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if, following the outcome of the four counties study of bovine tuberculosis in Ireland, she will abandon the Krebs trials and adopt proactive controls on badger hotspot areas where there is significant incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle;
	(2)  under what circumstances she would consider abandoning the Krebs trials.

Ben Bradshaw: We have made it clear that we are prepared to consider a badger culling policy but only if the available scientific evidence supports this as a cost-effective and sustainable solution. We welcome the report of the Irish Four Area Culling Trial and have sought independent scientific advice on whether the findings are readily translatable to the situation in Great Britain. The advice we receive will be published on the Defra website.
	The Irish Government is not changing its policy, believing that the type of proactive badger removal carried out in the Four Counties Study to be unviable.
	At present, we have no plans to abandon the Randomised Badger Culling Trial. Significant results from the reactive element of the trial, notified to Ministers by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG), led to suspension of culling in the reactive treatment areas in November 2003. The ISG has undertaken to bring any significant results from the proactive element of the trial to Ministers' attention without delay. The ISG has advised that trial operations should be complete in early 2006 with final data analysis commencing shortly thereafter.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent to which the spread of tuberculosis by infected cattle in the re-stocking period immediately after foot and mouth disease was eradicated in the UK during 2001 was influenced by the absence of pre-movement tuberculosis restrictions in cattle herds.

Ben Bradshaw: We are aware that cattle to cattle spread of bovine TB has taken place as a result of restocking following foot and mouth disease and Defra is funding research, by Warwick University, that aims to (i) identify and estimate risk factors associated with the introduction of bovine TB in restocked farms and (ii) model transmission dynamics within cattle populations. The modelling work will take account of the exposure of cattle to badgers. The research project is due to end in 2006 and results will be published on the Defra website.
	While no specific assessment has been made of the possible impact that pre-movement testing would have had on bovine TB in herds restocked following FMD, Government recognises that pre-movement TB testing is important as a mechanism to help prevent further spread of the disease. Defra's advice to farmers, published in the booklet 'TB in Cattle—Reducing the Risk', has always been to consider private TB testing and isolation of any animals bought in to a herd. This advisory booklet has been available to farmers, free of charge, since 1999. Officials are currently working with stakeholders to develop detailed proposals to make pre-movement TB testing of cattle from the areas of the country most badly affected by bovine TB compulsory.

Consultants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total expenditure by her Department on all external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii) 2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08.

Alun Michael: Defra came into being in June 2001. From information held centrally, the Department spent £30.012 million on all external consultants in 2003–04. On current information, estimated costs on all external consultants in 2004–05 will be approximately £25.8 million. Estimates of expenditure on all external consultants cannot yet be provided because the Department has not yet completed its business planning for the next financial years.

Countryside Access

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in respect of how many hectares of land mapped in areas one to four of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 mapping procedure fall within the definition of section 15 of that Act.

Alun Michael: The amount of land mapped under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 in areas one to three, that falls within the definition of section 15, is 49,348.4 hectares. The right of access has not yet come into force in area four but the latest estimate is that this will involve a further 39,397 hectares.

Dairy Farming

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she next plans to meet dairy farmers to discuss farmgate prices.

Alun Michael: Price negotiation between producers and processors, or processors and supermarkets is a private commercial matter in which the Government cannot and should not get involved, provided competition rules are respected. However, Ministers frequently meet representatives from all parts of the dairy supply chain and are therefore aware of the issues.

Dairy Farming

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average farm gate price paid to farmers in Lancashire for milk is.

Alun Michael: We have data covering the United Kingdom as a whole, but we do not hold milk price information for specific areas of the UK. The average price for milk delivered in December 2004 (the most recent month for which figures are available) is 19.12 pence per litre.

Equine Breeding

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the European Union institutions (a) have made and (b) are considering legislation requiring coloured ponies born to any sire or dam that are registered with any of the equine breed societies to be eligible to be included in the breed standard register, if the owner so desires; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The rules relating to the eligibility for entry into recognised equine studbooks are essentially a matter for the individual equine studbook Societies to decide. However, their requirements must not be contrary to the rules contained in Commission Decision 96/78/EC—laying down the criteria for entry and registration of "equidae" in stud-books for breeding purposes. We are not aware of any intention on the part of the European Commission to amend this legislation.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee on Implementation of the Directive establishing a Community policy regarding water met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The EU Committee on the implementation of the Directive establishing a Community policy regarding water met at the European Commission buildings in Brussels twice during the Irish presidency on 15 March 2004 and 28 May 2004; and once during the Dutch presidency on 28 October 2004. No meetings took place under the Italian presidency.
	The UK Government was represented on the above occasions by water quality officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Scottish Executive.

Farm Support

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what initiatives her Department has introduced since 1997 to support farming.

Alun Michael: The information is as follows:
	Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food
	The Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food was launched in December 2002. It builds on the work of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food and is a comprehensive and long-term plan for the future development of the industry. It identifies how the Government will work with the whole of the food chain to secure a Sustainable future for English farming and food industries, as viable industries contributing to a better environment and healthy and prosperous communities.
	In practical terms the Strategy means:
	industry, government and consumers working together to secure a more positive future for the industry;
	helping farmers add value by reconnecting with their customers;
	providing good quality assured food that consumers want;
	improving co-operation within the food chain and improving its performance across the board;
	helping farmers secure the right training and advice to develop their businesses and spread best practice; and
	protecting the environment and rewarding farmers for providing environmental goods.
	Much progress has already been made in implementing the Strategy, most notably through:
	CAP Reform deal agreed in June 2003.
	Preparation for launch of a new agri-environment scheme, Environmental Stewardship in the spring this year. The scheme will include Entry Level Environmental Stewardship (ELS), which is open to all farmers. Higher Level Environmental Stewardship and Organic Entry Level Environmental Stewardship.
	Launch of Pilot for Whole Farm Approach. The approach will deliver a range of benefits to both farmers and regulators. For the farmer it will reduce duplication and repeat requests for information, allow participants to understand how new standards and regulations may impact on their business as well as providing direct access to guidance and targeted information which will improve business performance.
	Animal Health and Welfare Strategy, Implementation Plan and Evidence Base & launched on 24 June 2004. The Strategy was launched to set out a sustainable future for Animal Health and Welfare, explaining the vision and how this is to be achieved over the next 10 years. Veterinary Surveillance Strategy and revised Scrapie Strategy under the AHW Strategy also published.
	A Pilot demonstration farms network has been set up.
	Launch of a new Food Chain Centre to encourage greater efficiency in the UK food chain.
	Launch of English Farming and Food Partnerships (EFFP)—to drive increased co-operation between farmers and between farmers and the rest of the food chain.
	Key grants given under the new Agriculture Development Schemes, including awards to EFFP, Food Chain Centre and the Red Meat Industry Forum—to deliver improvements in competitiveness.
	Launch of a programme of support for quality regional food and drinks.
	Launch of a Sustainable Food Procurement Initiative to encourage public sector purchasers to buy food in a manner which promotes sustainable development.
	The Research Priorities Group set up and the Applied Research Forum launched to ensure better co-ordination of, and support for, research and science in farming and food.
	Red Meat Industry Forum—set up to deliver improvements in competitiveness in the red meat sector.
	Non Food Crops centre is up and running and was launched on 24 November 2003.
	Non-food crops strategy—On November 5 2004 Lord Whitty launched a joint Defra/DTI long-term strategy to create more demand for and use of renewable raw materials made from non-food crops. It is aimed at increasing commercial opportunities, stimulating innovation, cutting waste and environmental damage, and protecting precious natural resources.
	A new chairman appointed to take forward AFS 2003 (Assured Food Standards).
	Regulation—A new unit has been set up within the Department to look at regulation specifically from the farmer's point of view.
	Benchmarking—Farm business benchmarking online database launched in 2004.
	Animal Health
	OTMS—on 1 December 2004 the start of a managed transition towards the lifting of the OTM rule and its replacement with a system of robust testing of cattle for BSE was announced. An essential first step will be the establishment of a robust and independently audited testing regime. Only cattle for which there is a negative test result will be sold for human consumption.
	Foot and Mouth Disease—Defra has conducted a major national exercise to test contingency plans in case of a future outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
	National Fallen Stock scheme—a guaranteed, biosecure, low-cost means of animal carcass disposal—came into effect on 22 November 2004. Government are providing £10 million in the first year to allow the National Fallen Stock Company to pay 30 per cent. of the costs of collection and disposal of fallen farmed stock.
	TB—Announced new measures on 1 November 2004 to tighten surveillance and reduce the risk of bovine TB spreading to new areas. These include changes to testing frequency and the imposition of movement restrictions immediately a test becomes overdue.
	ERDP
	The England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) is principally aimed at the farming industry and provides a framework for the operation of 10 separate but integrated schemes which provide new opportunities to protect and improve the countryside, to develop sustainable enterprises and to help rural communities to thrive.
	The ERDP implements the European Rural Development Regulation—also known as the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy. A total of £1.6 billion of EU and Government money is being made available under these schemes in England during the seven years (2000–06) of the Programme.
	The ERDP aims to:
	significantly increase the area covered by schemes to conserve and improve the environment and maintain the sustainable management of the uplands through the following land-based schemes:
	Hill Farm Allowance
	Countryside Stewardship Scheme
	Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme
	Organic Farming Scheme
	Woodland Grant Scheme
	Farm Woodland Premium Scheme
	Energy Crops Scheme
	assist the creation of more diverse and competitive agricultural and forestry sectors and jobs in the countryside, encourage the development of new products and markets and greater collaboration, and provide training to support these new activities through the following project-based schemes:
	Rural Enterprise Scheme
	Processing and Marketing Grant
	Vocational Training Scheme
	The Objective 1 Programme
	Complementing the ERDP is the Objective 1 programme, part of the European Structural Funds. The Objective 1 programme runs from 1 January 2000 until 31 December 2006 and covers the areas of the EU, which have incomes below 75 per cent. of the EU15 average.
	In England, three areas have been designated to receive funding under Objective 1: Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Merseyside and South Yorkshire.
	There are a number of European funds that can be drawn upon by those in Objective 1 areas and Defra, in collaboration with Government Offices is responsible for delivering the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. This fund has the following objectives:
	to help to preserve the link between agriculture and the land;
	to improve and support the competitiveness of agriculture as a key activity in rural areas;
	to ensure diversification of activities in rural areas;
	to help retain people in rural areas; and
	to preserve and improve the environment, the landscape and our rural heritage.
	Across the 3 Objective 1 areas, approximately £133 million is available over the period 2000–06 for supporting projects which have similar aims to the three ERDP project-based schemes mentioned.
	Farm Business Advice Service
	The Farm Business Advice Service (FBAS) was launched in October 2000 aimed at improving farm business profitability and sustainability. The service has provided farmers in England with up to three days of free one-to-one on-farm advice. Since its launch, the Government have invested around £28 million in FBAS helping over 18,000 farmers.
	An enhanced 5-day form of the service was introduced between 2001 and 2003 as part of the recovery package announced for farmers who have had stock compulsorily slaughtered due to foot and mouth disease control measures.
	The service was initially launched as a four year service but it was extended for a further year through to March 2005 to help farmers consider the business implications of the impending changes introduced under CAP reform.
	New arrangements for the provision of specialist advice to assist farm businesses explore the implications of the introduction of the single payment will be made available in 2005–06 and we will be making an announcement on the detail as soon as possible.
	RDS Farm Advice Unit
	This new Unit has been set up to oversee delivery of technical and environmental advice to farmers, for example on minimising pollution or conservation to meet the requirements of cross-compliance. There is a Farm Advice Co-ordinator based in each region.
	The Planning Consultancy Advice Scheme
	The Planning Consultancy Advice Scheme offered to cover the cost of one day's professional planning guidance for farmers considering diversifying their farm business and was implemented in September 2001.
	Fresh Start Initiative
	An industry-led initiative to encourage new entrants into the farming industry was launched at the Smithfield Show on 2 December 2004, with strong Government support.

Food Miles

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of food miles on (a) congestion on the roads and (b) the environment, through emissions of greenhouse gases from modes of transport used; and what assessment she has made of the effects on the environment of production local to the place of sale.

Alun Michael: Further to my response of 19 January 2005, Official Report, column 943W, the report commissioned by Defra on the impact of food transportation "The Validity of Food Miles as an Indicator of Sustainable Development" is now likely to be published early in the summer. I will write to my hon. Friend to inform him when the report is published.

Foot and Mouth

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what actions were taken by the UK authorities in regard to the November 2000 foot and mouth disease outbreak in Mpumalanga that were not taken in regard to the September 2000 foot and mouth outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal;
	(2)  what actions were taken by the UK authorities in specific regard to the September 2000 foot and mouth disease outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal;
	(3)  what actions on the part of the UK authorities were (a) required and (b) recommended by the European Union with specific regard to the September 2000 foot and mouth disease outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal; and when these were implemented.

Margaret Beckett: If there is an outbreak of disease likely to present a risk to human or animal health, European Community legislation allows us to take appropriate safeguard action, which may include a ban on imports of meat from all, or parts, of that country. At the time of the outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal, we did not judge it necessary to take safeguard action since the South African authorities had prohibited the issue of export certificates for fresh meat from the area in which the outbreak had occurred. This meant that exports from South Africa could not take place.
	On 7–8 November 2000 the European Commission informed the Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC) (now known as the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health) of the outcome of an inspection carried out in South Africa by Commission inspectors, and indicated that safeguard measures may be necessary because of some difficulties the South African authorities were experiencing in dealing with the outbreak. On 25 November the Commission published legislation prohibiting imports into the Community of fresh meat from 16 districts in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The Government was satisfied that the action taken by the Commission and controls in place in South Africa were sufficient to prevent any risk of disease entering the UK.
	By 20 December it was clear that the situation in South Africa had deteriorated. The Government reviewed the situation and a decision was taken to take safeguard action. This was delayed due to the Christmas period, and on 5 January the Government issued a Declaration under Regulation 35 of the Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations 1996, prohibiting imports into England and Wales of meat from all of South Africa. Similar action was taken in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	The outbreak in Mpumalanga was confirmed on 30 November. The Commission took action in February 2001 to extend EU restrictions on imports of meat in respect of Mpumalanga. By that time, the UK had already banned imports of meat from the whole country, so no further action was necessary.

Freedom of Information

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what applications were made to her Department during January under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; what the (a) total and (b) average cost was of discovery and distribution of the information requested; how many requests were answered within the statutory 20-day period; and what reasons were given to those whose requests were rejected.

Alun Michael: The number of requests under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations recorded on our central tracking system during January was 97. This does not include the many routine requests for information to which the Department responds as part of its normal business. During January, 28 of the 97 requests, were answered within the 20 working day deadline. The deadline has not yet been reached in respect of those requests received from mid January onwards.
	Two of the 28 answered cases were refused and one partially refused. The grounds for refusal were section 40 (personal information) of the Freedom of Information Act and Regulations 12(3) (personal data) and 12(4)(d) (unfinished documents or incomplete data) of the Environmental Information Regulations.
	We do not have information on the total and average cost of locating and providing the information requested.

India (Environmental Policy)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent communications Ministers in her Department have had with counterparts in India on (a) sustainable development and (b) environmental scientific co-operation.

Elliot Morley: I visited New Delhi from 3 to 6 February to attend the fifth Delhi Sustainable Development Summit., where I chaired and spoke at a ministerial session on 'Global Sustainability: Challenges for Developed and Developing Countries'. In my remarks, I noted the increasing interdependence of countries on issues of sustainable development and the need for co-operation and partnership. I focussed on the opportunities afforded by the UK Presidencies of the G8 and EU in 2005 to address climate change and development challenges in Africa.
	I also met my counterpart, Mr. Raja, the Indian Minister for the Environment and Forests, to discuss India's draft New Environment Policy, co-operation on forests and wildlife protection and progress on the UK—India High-level Sustainable Development Dialogue.
	Defra is funding a collaborative project with the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests on the impacts of climate change. Work started in September 2001 and the final reports will be published during 2005. The research programme included the sharing of knowledge through technology transfer and capacity building, with collaboration between scientist in Indian and UK research institutes. The project outputs were presented to me when I visited India in February 2004 and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State during her visit in October 2004.
	The Department plans to take forward further work in this area as part of the collaboration envisaged under the UK and Indian Prime Ministers' September 2004 joint declaration committing to further co-operation between the two countries.

Mobile Phones

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of staff mobile phone bills was in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: The following table shows the expenditure in fiscal years since the Department was formed in 2001.
	
		
			  Mobile phones (£000) 
		
		
			 2001–02 2,629 
			 2002–03 839 
			 2003–04 666

New Rural Agency

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in her Department and agencies (a) are and (b) will be fully or partly employed in preparing for the merger of English Nature with parts of the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Many members of staff across the Department and its Agencies are contributing, to the successful creation of an integrated agency as part of their normal duties. This will be achieved through the merger of English Nature with parts of the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service. The level of involvement varies between individuals according to their specific roles.
	The detailed activities involved in establishing an integrated agency are being co-ordinated by a dedicated project team consisting of people from across the three organisations, as well as from within core Defra. The project team consists of 23 people working on the project either full time, or for a significant part of their time. This number is planned to increase to 28 from April 2005.
	In addition, a team has been established within Defra to ensure the overall successful implementation of the Modernising Rural Delivery programme, of which establishment of an integrated agency forms a significant part. This team comprises 34 members of staff.
	As the establishment of the new agency progresses, there will be increasing involvement from additional members of staff. In due course, all those employed by the three organisations who will join the integrated agency will be involved to some extent.

Postage

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on postage by the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: The information set out in the following table details postage costs for Defra's London and Guildford HQ sites from 2000–01, when Defra came into existence.
	
		
			 £ 
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 London 
			 Post and courier 396,069 447,268 209,240 248,334 
			 Inter departmental service 95,313 93,373 94,640 96,853 
			 Total 491,382 540,641 303,880 345,187 
			  
			 Guildford 
			 Post and courier 10,000 7,500 8,500 9,000 
			  
			 Grand Total 501,382 548,141 312,380 354,187

Social Enterprises

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make explicit reference in departmental plans and publications to enabling a wider role to be played by social enterprises in delivering her Department's environmental agenda.

Elliot Morley: Defra's Five Year Strategy, "Delivering the Essentials of Life", set out our commitment to supporting social enterprise in rural areas. Building on that, we will shortly publish a position statement, "Defra and Social Enterprise", which will reflect the contribution of the sector to Defra's wider policy objectives, including sustainable development and environmental protection. The statement will reflect the contribution which social enterprises already make to delivering a range of environmental objectives, including those on waste management, renewable energy, and natural resource protection. It will also set out our plans to contribute to the continued growth of the sector. The position statement is the latest stage in a programme of work to embed support for social enterprise in the development of Defra's policies.

Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money is available in each region under the Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy.

Alun Michael: The Government announced a sum of c£500 million to implement the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food as part of the 2002 Spending Review, in addition to existing spending by Defra and other Government Departments which is already being used to deliver aspects of the Strategy.
	The following table shows the actual spending in 2003–04 and the broad breakdown over the remainder of the Spending Review period. The majority of this funding is being used for overall delivery of national programmes, for which there is no regional breakdown, or programmes that will ultimately be delivered on a regional basis, but until full implementation is underway, regional figures are unavailable:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 Total 
		
		
			 Additional money to be made available via grant schemes 9 11 11 31 
			 Investment into research and new technology 1.8 1.8 1.8 5.4 
			 Development and implementation of new agri-environment and rural development schemes,  including IT development costs 27 54 151 232 
			 Development and implementation of new Whole Farm Approach to reduce bureaucracy and  burden on farmers 2.7 7 8 17.7 
			 IT systems to support livestock identification and tracing 20 48 68 136 
			 Investment to reduce the likelihood and impact of an animal disease outbreak 25 45 45 115 
			 Total537.1 
		
	
	Existing support programmes, including the ERDP have been targeted to assist in the delivery of SSFF outcomes. Budgets for the three ERDP project-based schemes are managed on a regional basis, and the following table summarises expenditure on these schemes in 2004–05.
	
		
			£ million 
			 Region Processing and marketing grant Rural enterprise scheme(4) Vocational training scheme 
		
		
			 East Midlands 1.438 3.990 0.398 
			 East of England 1.757 2.699 0.545 
			 North East 0.251 2.159 0.075 
			 North West 1.011 3.686 0.921 
			 South East 0.830 2.670 0.498 
			 South West 1.320 5.512 0.689 
			 West Midlands 0.688 3.852 0.374 
			 Yorks and Humberside 0.816 3.233 0.293 
			 National  (5)0.685 (6)0.416 
		
	
	(4) RES funds are also available to non-farming businesses.
	(5) RES National marketing measure.
	(6) All national projects (four regions +).
	Regional delivery of the strategy, through regional action plans, will be facilitated by many public body and industry representatives and these organisations will work together with both resource and funding support to deliver the vision set out in the strategy. They are making use of Government grants, industry support and the resources of Government Offices and Regional Development Agencies, as well as other Government bodies participating in regional steering groups.
	Given the number of public and industry bodies contributing to regional delivery, it is not possible to quantify precisely the level of support available to fund regional delivery. Implementation of SFFS is one of the core tasks of the Government Offices and Regional Development Agencies, and their funding from Defra reflects this. Funding for the Government Offices are provided directly by Defra. The current Defra contribution of £45.5 million to the RDA 'single pot', administered by DTI, is to enable RDAs to address rural productivity issues, which are a key factor in achieving the outcomes of the national Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy. In addition, Defra has made a further £1.5 million available to the RDAs in the current financial year to assist with the implementation of regional delivery plans.

Cancer Statistics

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of deaths were due to cancer in the (a) North East, (b) South East, (c) North and (d) South in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibilities of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Dr. Ashok Kumar, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of deaths are due to cancer in the (a) North East, (b) South East, (c) North and (d) South. I am replying in his absence. (215891)
	Figures are provided in the table below for the North East and South East Government Office Regions for 2003, the latest year for which data are available. As the Office for National Statistics does not have a geographic classification of administrative areas into 'North' and 'South', results are also provided for other Government Office Regions and Wales.
	
		Percentage of deaths due to cancer(7) by Government Office Region(8), 2003 3
		
			 Government Office Region Percentage of deaths due to cancer 
		
		
			 North East 21 
			 North West 25 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 26 
			 East Midlands 25 
			 West Midlands 25 
			 East of England 26 
			 London 25 
			 South East 25 
			 South West 25 
			 Wales 25 
		
	
	(7) The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The codes used are listed below:
	"Cancer (malignant neoplasms)—ICD-10 COO-C97"
	(8) Usual residents of these areas.
	(9) Deaths occurring in 2003.

Credit Unions

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether existing credit unions will be included for support under the Social Fund loan scheme referred to in the report on Promoting Financial Inclusion;
	(2)  how the Social Fund loan scheme monies referred to in the report on Promoting Financial Inclusion will be apportioned; and which institutions will qualify for inclusion.

Stephen Timms: 'Promoting financial inclusion' announced a series of measures to increase the availability of affordable credit to those on the lowest incomes. These measures include the next steps in the reform of the Social Fund. The Government will abolish the 'double debt' rule for Budgeting Loans eligibility and will lower the highest loan repayment rates. These reforms will be implemented in April 2006 and amount to an increase in funding for the Social Fund loans scheme of £210 million over the three years to 2008–09.
	'Promoting financial inclusion' also announced that the Government are considering arrangements whereby, in certain circumstances, private and third sector lenders—including existing credit unions—could apply for repayment to be made by deduction from benefit where normal repayment arrangements have broken down. The aim of this scheme would be to reduce some of the increased costs and risks of lending to vulnerable groups. The Government have been seeking responses from private and third sector lenders, on this scheme. However no final decisions have been made as to whether and how the scheme will operate.
	Subject to any necessary state aids clearance from the European Commission, the Government will also set up a growth fund for third sector lenders from within the Financial Inclusion Fund. This growth fund will be available to credit unions and community development finance institutions to boost the coverage, capacity and sustainability of the sector in providing a source of affordable credit for the financially excluded.

Employment/Education

Alan Hurst: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the population between the ages of 18 and 25 years were in either employment or education in (a) the County of Essex in each year from 1991 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the boroughs of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea in each year from 1998 to 2004.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Alan Hurst, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of the population between the ages of 18 and 25 years were in either employment or education in (a) the County of Essex in each year from 1991 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the Boroughs of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea, in each year from 1998 to 2004. I am replying in his absence. (215115)
	The attached table gives estimates of those people aged 18 to 24 years old, resident in the county of Essex and the Boroughs of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea, either in employment or education, for the 12 month periods ending February each year for the years 1995 to 2004. Information is not available for earlier periods.
	These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any statistical sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
	
		18–24 year olds either in employment or in full-time education(15) Percentage
		
			  Place of residence 
			 12 months ending February each year County of Essex Thurrock UA 2 Southend-on-Sea UA 2 
		
		
			 1995 80.7 — — 
			 1996 80.4 — — 
			 1997 83.2 — — 
			 1998 84.9 75.9 72.2 
			 1999 85.5 79.2 67.7 
			 2000 88.3 85.3 87.3 
			 2001 86.8 84.0 79.4 
			 2002 85.5 85.6 76.1 
			 2003 79.8 86.3 81.7 
			 2004 85.2 76.8 84.6 
		
	
	(15) Expressed as a percentage of all 18 to 24-year-olds resident in relevant area. Includes some people who are in full-time education who are also in employment.
	(16) Data for Unitary Authorities not available prior to 1998.
	Note:
	Some of these estimates are based on small sample sizes and are subject to a higher degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, in particular, should be treated with caution.
	Source:
	ONS—Labour Force Survey

New Jobs (Scotland)

Michael Moore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new jobs have been created in (a) Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, (b) the Scottish Borders and (c) Scotland in each year since 2002.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Mr. Colin Mowl to Mr. Michael Moore, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary Question about the number of new jobs created in Scotland and selected regions. I am replying in his absence. (216127)
	While statistics of new jobs created are not available explicitly, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes in numbers of jobs from year to year.
	The attached table shows the available information for the number of jobs and change in jobs in the parliamentary constituency of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, the Scottish Borders and in Scotland, from 2001 to 2003.
	
		Number of jobs(17) and change in jobs in the parliamentary constituency of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, the Scottish Borders and Scotland: 2001 to 2003
		
			 Number of jobs 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale2,3 19,000 21,500 — 
			 Scottish Borders(18) 38,800 39,900 41,000 
			 Scotland 2,299,800 2,279,500 2,298,900 
			 Change in number of jobs from previous year 
			 Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale(18) ,  (19)  2,400 — 
			 Scottish Borders(18)  1,100 1,100 
			 Scotland  20,300 19,400 
		
	
	(17) Excludes self-employed jobs.
	(18) These figures are aggregates from which agriculture class 0100 (1992 SIC) have been excluded
	(19) 2003 Annual Business Inquiry estimates are currently not available by parliamentary constituency
	Note:
	Each table entry is independently rounded to the nearest hundred
	Source:
	2001–2003; Annual Business Inquiry.

Pensions Selling

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensions were sold in each of the past 10 years on the basis of (a) tied advice, (b) independent advice and (c) execution only; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available in the format required. However, the "First Report of the Pensions Commission" provides Individual Pension Sales by Channel for 2003 sourced from "ABI new business statistics, 2003". The following figures include all Stakeholder, Group Personal Pension (GPP) and Free Standing Additional Voluntary Contribution (FSAVC) pensions.
	
		
			 Distribution channel Percentage of total sales 
		
		
			 Independent financial advisers 79 
			 Direct salesforce and tied agents 18 
			 Direct marketing with no salesforce interview 2 
			 Other 1/<1 
			 Total 100 
		
	
	More detailed statistics relating to premiums collected per annum by distribution channel dating from 1994 are available from the website of the Association of British Insurers.

Postage

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on postage by the Department in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The Treasury's postage costs were £62,000 in 2002–03 and £67,000 in 2003–04, being the costs incurred on the Department's franking machines. Letters are posted 2nd class unless specified otherwise. Information in respect of the earlier years is not readily available.

Teenage Pregnancy (Leicester)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the teenage pregnancy rate in Leicester, South was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Gill, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the teenage pregnancy rate in Leicester South was in each year since 1997. I am replying in his absence. (216386)
	Teenage conception figures by Parliamentary Constituencies are not available.
	The most recent year for which figures are available for local and health authorities is 2002. Figures for this year are provisional.
	Number and rate of teenage conceptions to women aged under 18 in Leicester UA for 1997 to 2002 are given in the table below.
	
		
			  Number Rate(20) 
		
		
			 1997 304 54.3 
			 1998 365 64.6 
			 1999 326 59.1 
			 2000 329 58.3 
			 2001 273 47.1 
			 2002(21) 308 51.9 
		
	
	(20) Per 1,000 female population aged 15–17.
	(21) Provisional

Unemployment (Scotland)

Michael Moore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment was in each year since 2002 in (a) Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, (b) the Scottish Borders and (c) Scotland, broken down by (i) age and (ii) gender.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibilities of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Mr. Colin Mowl to Mr. Michael Moore, dated 16 February 2005:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary Question
	about unemployment. I am replying in his absence. (216129)
	Table 1 gives estimates of the numbers of unemployed people, who were resident in Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Parliamentary Constituency, the Scottish Borders and Scotland for the twelve month periods ending February for the years 2002 to 2004.
	These estimates from Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for local areas. Table 2 gives the annual average number of people resident by age and gender in the Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale parliamentary constituency, the Scottish Borders and Scotland claiming Jobseeker's Allowance benefits for the years 2002 to 2004.
	
		Table 1: Unemployed people resident in Tweeddale, the Scottish Borders and Scotland by gender and age
		
			  Total 
			 Twelve month period ending February Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale(22) Scottish Borders(22) Scotland 
		
		
			 2002
			 All Persons 16+ (23)— 1,000 166,000 
			 16–24 (23)— (23)— 64,000 
			 25–34 (23)— (23)— 36,000 
			 35–49 (23)— (23)— 42,000 
			 50 and over (23)— (23)— 24,000 
			 2003
			 All Persons 16+ 1,000 3,000 164,000 
			 16–24 1,000 1,000 61,000 
			 25–34 (23)— 1,000 31,000 
			 35–49 (23)— (23)— 43,000 
			 50 and over (23)— (23)— 29,000 
			 2004
			 All Persons 16+ 1,000 2,000 145,000 
			 16–24 1,000 1,000 58,000 
			 25–34 (23)— (23)— 31,000 
			 35–49 (23)— (23)— 36,000 
			 50 and over (23)— (23)— 20,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Male Female 
			 Twelve month period ending February Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale(22) Scottish Borders(22) Scotland Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale(22) Scottish Borders(22) Scotland 
		
		
			 2002   
			 All Persons 16+ (23)— (23)— 105,000 (23)— (23)— 61,000 
			 16–24 (23)— (23)— 42,000 (23)— (23)— 22,000 
			 25–34 (23)— (23)— 19,000 (23)— (23)— 17,000 
			 35–49 (23)— (23)— 25,000 (23)— (23)— 18,000 
			 50 and over (23)— (23)— 19,000 (23)— (23)— 5,000 
			 2003   
			 All Persons 16+ 1,000 2,000 99,000 (23)— 1,000 65,000 
			 16–24 1,000 1,000 37,000 (23)— (23)— 24,000 
			 25–34 (23)— (23)— 17,000 (23)— (23)— 15,000 
			 35–49 (23)— (23)— 25,000 (23)— (23)— 18,000 
			 50 and over (23)— (23)— 20,000 (23)— (23)— 9,000 
			 2004   
			 All Persons 16+ 1,000 1,000 92,000 (23)— 1,000 53,000 
			 16–24 (23)— (23)— 36,000 (23)— (23)— 22,000 
			 25–34 (23)— (23)— 19,000 (23)— (23)— 12,000 
			 35–49 (23)— (23)— 22,000 (23)— (23)— 14,000 
			 50 and over (23)— (23)— 15,000 (23)— (23)— 5,000 
		
	
	(22) These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.
	(23) Estimates are not shown as they are potentially disclosive.
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants resident in Tweeddale, the Scottish Borders and Scotland by gender and age
		
			  Total 
			 Annual Average Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale Scottish Borders Scotland 
		
		
			 2002
			 All Persons 16+ 745 1,400 103,590 
			 18–24 210 400 26,395 
			 25–34 165 300 26,585 
			 35–49 210 380 30,290 
			 50 and over 130 275 17,635 
			 2003
			 All Persons 16+ 685 1,200 101,560 
			 18–24 190 330 26,405 
			 25–34 150 245 25,220 
			 35–49 190 335 29,550 
			 50 and over 130 245 17,600 
			 2004
			 All Persons 16+ 650 1,125 94,105 
			 18–24 175 320 25,170 
			 25–34 140 235 22,600 
			 35–49 195 315 27,195 
			 50 and over 120 220 16,435 
		
	
	
		
			  Male Female 
			  Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale Scottish Borders Scotland Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale Scottish Borders Scotland 
		
		
			 2002   
			 All Persons 16+ 570 1040 80,030 175 360 23,565 
			 18–24 155 270 18,890 55 130 7,500 
			 25–34 135 245 22,070 30 55 4,515 
			 35–49 165 295 23,965 45 85 6,325 
			 50 and over 95 200 13,605 35 75 4,030 
			 2003   
			 All Persons 16+ 515 870 77,875 165 330 23,690 
			 18–24 135 225 18,800 55 105 7,600 
			 25–34 120 195 20,850 25 50 4,370 
			 35–49 145 250 23,090 45 85 6,460 
			 50 and over 95 175 13,595 30 70 4,005 
			 2004   
			 All Persons 16+ 495 830 71,700 155 295 22,410 
			 18–24 130 220 17,865 45 100 7,310 
			 25–34 115 185 18,665 25 45 3,935 
			 35–49 155 240 21,125 40 70 6,070 
			 50 and over 90 160 12,560 30 60 3,875 
		
	
	Note:
	Age breakdown is analysed by computer claims only.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

Vitamins and Supplements

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have died from the effects of vitamins and supplements in (a) Lancashire, (b) Chorley and (c) the north west in the last three years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Hoyle, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people have died from the effects of vitamins and supplements in (a) Lancashire, (b) Chorley and (c) the North West in the last three years. I am replying in his absence. (216241)
	Available figures relate to poisoning by vitamins and vitamin supplements. They do not include adverse effects of vitamins and vitamin supplements in therapeutic use. The most recent available figures are for the calendar year 2003. There were 2 deaths recorded nationally from poisoning by vitamins and vitamin supplements 1 between the calendar years 2001 and 2003. Because of the risk of disclosure these data can not be disaggregated by area.
	1 Selected using the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (1CD-10) codes:
	T45.2—Poisoning by vitamins, not elsewhere classified,
	T45.7—Poisoning by anticoagulant antagonists, vitamin K and other coagulant,
	T46.7—Peripheral vasodilators, and
	T47.1—Poisoning from other antacids and anti-gastric-secretion drugs.

Asylum/Immigration

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a body independent of his Department to compile immigration statistics.

Des Browne: The Home Office is satisfied that there is already sufficient independence in the immigration statistics, for which it is responsible. Immigration control and asylum statistics are part of National Statistics. They are produced by statisticians, whose independence is established under the National Statistics Code of Practice, and the statistics themselves are acknowledged as reliable. The National Audit Office's review in May last year found that "the asylum data and statistics are in most respects reliable".
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for producing National Statistics on migrants entering or leaving the United Kingdom, and England and Wales. The ONS' estimates of migrants are compiled from a number of data sources, including the International Passenger Survey and date from the Home Office.
	National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. As such, they undergo quality assurance reviews and are produced free from any political interference.
	The Government's White Paper, 'Building trust in statistics', sets out the framework for assuring the quality of National Statistics. A key component of the framework is to conduct a programme of thorough reviews of key outputs, at least every five years. The National Statistics Quality Review of the International Migration was published on 2 September 2003 and covered all forms of migration between the UK and the rest of the world, including statistics relating to all migrants and statistics relating to migrants subject to UK immigration control. The Home Office is about to embark on a National Statistics review of its publications relating to the control of immigration statistics, including the presentation of asylum statistics within these.

European Public Bodies

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the (a) budget, (b) role and (c) staffing levels of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Co-operation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union; when this body was agreed in Council; whether this body was notified to Parliament; under what legal treaty base it will operate; where it will be based; and whether its staff will enjoy diplomatic immunity.

Des Browne: The provisional budget for the European Agency for the Management of Operational Co-operation at the External Borders of the member states of the European Union was set out in the legislative financial statement annexed to the first version of the Agency Regulation (14766/03). The initial estimate for the years 2005–09 is as follows: 2005—€6,157 million; 2006—€9.754 million; 2007—€15,754 million; 2008—€15.754 million; and 2009—€8.754 million. But the final figures are still being discussed as part of the negotiations on the new financial perspective which begins in 2007. As the UK has been excluded from participation in adoption of the Agency Regulation, we will not be making a financial contribution to the Agency through the EU budget—we receive an automatic rebate on measures in which we do not participate. UK contributions will only be made when we request to participate in specific activities undertaken by the Agency.
	The role of the Agency will be to provide effective co-ordination of member states joint actions at the EU external borders. Article 2 of the final version of the Agency Regulation (2007/2004) outlines the Agency's main tasks:
	"1. The Agency shall perform the following tasks:
	(a) co-ordinate operational co-operation between member states in the field of management of external borders;
	(b) assist member states on training of national border guards, including the establishment of common training standards;
	(c) carry out risk analyses;
	(d) follow up on the development of research relevant for the control and surveillance of external borders;
	(e) assist member states in circumstances requiring increased technical and operational assistance at external borders;
	(f) provide member states with the necessary support in organising joint return operations."
	The UK fully supports the aims and objectives of the Agency.
	The staffing levels of the Agency will be set once the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director and the Management Board are in place—it will be their responsibility to decide what the staffing levels should be (within the limits of the provisional budget).
	The Agency Regulation was adopted by the Council on 26 October 2004, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 25 November 2004 and came into force on 26 November 2004. The Agency itself should be operational by May 2005.
	Parliament was kept fully informed of negotiations on the Border Agency Regulation through the usual European Parliamentary Scrutiny mechanisms. It cleared scrutiny in the European Scrutiny Committee [Commons] on 25 February 2004 and in the European Union Committee [Lords]on 2 March 2004.
	The Agency will operate under a joint legal treaty base—Articles 62(2)(a) and 66 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.
	No decision has yet been taken on where the Agency will be based. Five member states (Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia and Malta) submitted bids to host the Agency. The UK supports the Polish bid. The Agency will still become operational by May 2005, even if no decision has been taken on its permanent location by then.
	Permanent staff of the Agency will have the same status as the staff of the other EU institutions (e.g. including the Commission). This is in accordance with the existing Staff Regulations and conditions of employment of officials of the European Communities, as set out in Article 17 of the Border Agency Regulation.

Speed Cameras

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total amount of revenue from speed cameras was in the area policed by the Lancashire Constabulary in the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: Information on the total revenue from offences detected by speed camera is not collected centrally, but an estimate can be made from the number of fines and fixed penalties and is given in the table for 2002 (latest available).
	2003 data will be available shortly.
	
		Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for speeding offences detected by cameras(26) in the Lancashire police force area, 2002.
		
			   Fixed penalties Court proceedings(27) 
			  Number of tickets(28) Estimated revenue (£) 4 Number of fines Total amount of fine(£) Average fine (£) 
		
		
			 2002 88,700 5,322,000 1,700 110,400 66 
		
	
	(26) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(27) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.
	(28) Paid i.e. no further action.
	(29) 'Estimate' based on £60 penalty charge.

Advertising Costs

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the projected expenditure of his Department for advertising and publicity is for the year 2004–05, broken down by campaign; and what the projected total expenditure on advertising and publicity is for the following three years.

Jane Kennedy: The following table details the estimated total expenditure on advertising and publicity in 2004–05:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004–05 campaign Advertising expenditure Total publicity expenditure 
		
		
			 Future pensioners/Informed Choice — 854,400 
			 State Second Pension — 84,200 
			 State Pension Deferral 200,000 300,000 
			 Pensioners Guide — 1,000,000 
			 Pension Credit 4,023,810 6,500,000 
			 The Pension Service — 559,000 
			 Direct Payment Information Campaign 8,808,000 9,500,000 
			 Direct Payment roadshow — 3,000,000 
			 Fraud 6,450,000 7,150,000 
			 New Deal — 1,650,000 
			 Jobcentre Plus employer marketing 443,000 1,300,000 
			 Jobcentre Plus Awareness — 275,740 
			 Age Positive — 600,000 
			 DDA Awareness 1,122,000 2,000,000 
			 Council Tax Benefit 661,640 850,000 
			 Winter Fuel Payments 514,910 815,000 
			 Totals 22,223,360 36,354,140 
		
	
	Decisions have not yet been made on future expenditure for 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08.
	Notes:
	1. All costs exclude VAT.
	2. All figures have been rounded
	3. Advertising costs are total media costs excluding all production costs
	4. Information campaigns costing under £250,000 and details of highly localised publicity activity by the Department's customer-facing businesses have generally not been included as a disproportionate cost would be incurred in compiling these figures.

Benefit Claims

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to process a claim for council tax benefit was in each year for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: Average processing times are only available for new claims for council tax benefit. Figures are not available prior to April 2000. The available information is in the following table.
	
		Average number of days to process new council tax benefit claims, Great Britain: April 2000 to September 2004
		
			 Period Days 
		
		
			 2000–01 60 
			 2001–02 58 
			 2002–03 53 
			 2003–04 47 
			   
			 2004–051  
			 April to June 2004 46 
			 July to September 2004 47 
		
	
	(30) 2004–05 data is available for the first two quarters only.
	Notes:
	1. The figures are rounded to the nearest whole day.
	2. The figures are taken from April to March each year and are four quarter averages.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit Management Information System Quarterly Administration Returns April 2000 to September 2004.

Benefit Claims

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people claimed job seekers' allowance in each constituency in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people claimed income support in each constituency in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: The information is in the following table.
	
		Income support (IS) and jobseekers allowance (JSA) claimants in Scotland by parliamentary constituency, as at August 2004.
		
			   JSA 
			  IS All Contribution-based only Income-based Credits-only 
		
		
			 Aberdeen Central 3,300 1,300 *400 800 *100 
			 Aberdeen North 2,500 700 *200 500 — 
			 Aberdeen South 2,100 700 *100 600 (31)— 
			 Airdrie and Shotts 4,700 1,500 *400 1,000 *100 
			 Angus 2,400 1,600 *400 1,000 *200 
			 Argyll and Bute 2,100 1,000 *100 800 *100 
			 Ayr 2,500 1,300 *300 900 *100 
			 Banff and Buchan 2,600 900 *200 600 *100 
			 Caithness Sutherland and Easter Ross 1,800 1,100 *300 700 *100 
			 Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley 3,700 1,600 *200 1,200 *200 
			 Central Fife 3,800 2,000 *300 1,600 *200 
			 Clydebank and Milngavie 3,200 1,200 *200 900 *100 
			 Clydesdale 3,500 1,200 *300 600 *200 
			 Coatbridge and Chryston 3,700 1,300 *200 1,000 *100 
			 Cumbernauld and Kilsyth 2,900 1,000 *200 600 *200 
			 Cunninghame North 3,100 1,700 *300 1,300 *100 
			 Cunninghame South 4,100 2,700 500 1,900 *300 
			 Dumbarton 3,100 1,700 *200 1,300 *100 
			 Dumfries 2,600 1,000 *200 800 *100 
			 Dundee East 4,600 2,000 *200 1,700 (31)— 
			 Dundee West 4,300 1,800 *400 1,300 *200 
			 Dunfermline East 3,000 1,700 *300 1,300 *100 
			 Dunfermline West 2,200 1,200 *100 1,000 *100 
			 East Kilbride 2,600 1,400 *400 800 *200 
			 East Lothian 2,500 800 *300 *300 *100 
			 Eastwood 2,100 1,100 *200 700 *200 
			 Edinburgh Central 3,200 1,200 *300 700 *200 
			 Edinburgh East and Musselburgh 4,400 1,400 *200 1,000 *100 
			 Edinburgh North and Leith 3,700 1,400 *300 1,000 *100 
			 Edinburgh Pentlands 2,700 1,000 *100 700 *100 
			 Edinburgh South 2,300 1,000 *200 700 *100 
			 Edinburgh West 2,200 1,000 *200 800 (31)— 
			 Falkirk East 2,400 1,100 *300 700 *100 
			 Falkirk West 3,300 1,400 *300 1,100 *100 
			 Galloway and Upper Nithsdale 2,400 900 *100 700 *100 
			 Glasgow Anniesland 5,300 1,500 *200 1,200 *100 
			 Glasgow Baillieston 6,000 1,500 *200 1,100 *100 
			 Glasgow Cathcart 5,000 1,400 *300 900 *200 
			 Glasgow Govan 5,400 1,800 *300 1,300 *100 
			 Glasgow Kelvin 4,400 1,700 *100 1,500 *100 
			 Glasgow Maryhill 7,200 2,100 *300 1,700 *100 
			 Glasgow Pollok 5,400 1,400 *200 1,100 *100 
			 Glasgow Rutherglen 4,400 1,200 *100 1,000 *100 
			 Glasgow Shettleston 8,600 2,400 *300 2,000 *200 
			 Glasgow Springburn 6,800 2,700 *300 2,300 *100 
			 Gordon 1,200 700 *200 *300 *100 
			 Greenock and Inverclyde 3,800 2,300 600 1,500 *200 
			 Hamilton North and Bellshill 4,000 1,500 *300 1,100 *100 
			 Hamilton South 3,600 1,400 *200 1,100 *100 
			 Inverness East Nairn and Lochaber 2,200 800 *200 500 *100 
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 3,900 2,000 *200 1,600 *100 
			 Kirkcaldy 3,000 2,200 *200 1,700 *300 
			 Linlithgow 3,100 1,200 *300 800 *100 
			 Livingston 3,500 1,100 *200 800 *100 
			 Midlothian 2,300 800 *200 600 *100 
			 Moray 1,900 900 *200 600 *200 
			 Motherwell and Wishaw 4,200 1 ,600 *300 1,200 *100 
			 North East Fife 1,100 900 *200 *400 *300 
			 North Tayside 2,000 1,100 *200 700 *100 
			 Ochil 2,700 1,500 *300 1,000 *100 
			 Orkney and Shetland 800 500 *100 *300 *100 
			 Paisley North 4,900 1,600 *400 1,100 *100 
			 Paisley South 3,900 1,400 *300 1,000 *100 
			 Perth 2,400 1,100 *300 800 *100 
			 Ross Skye and Inverness West 2,700 1,200 *200 700 *200 
			 Roxburgh and Berwickshire 1,800 500 *100 *400 (31)— 
			 Stirling 2,300 1,000 *100 700 *200 
			 Strathkelvin and Bearsden 2,000 900 *100 700 *100 
			 Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale 1,300 500 *200 *200 *100 
			 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine 1,300 600 *200 *300 (31)— 
			 West Renfrewshire 2,600 1,200 *300 800 *100 
			 Western Isles 700 600 *100 *400 (31)— 
		
	
	(31)— denotes nil or negligible
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2. Numbers marked "*" are based on very few sample cases and are subject to a high degree of sampling variation. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.
	3. Income-based JSA figures include claimants who would also be entitled to the contributory element.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample.

Benefit Payments (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Chorley constituency have received pension credit in each year since it was introduced.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the table. Further information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit and average awards at 31 December 2004 is contained in the most recent quarterly pension credit progress report, which was published on 3 February. A copy of the report is in the Library.
	
		Pension credit recipients, Chorley, 2003–04
		
			 As at December: Households Individuals 
		
		
			 2003 3,065 3,660 
			 2004 3,920 4,795 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Figures relate to the end of the month.
	3. Individuals comprise claimants and partners and may contain a small number of partners aged under 60.
	4. Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee from 6 October 2003.
	5. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS directory.
	6. The figures for December 2004 are the latest available.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample

Child Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of children in (a) the UK and (b) Vale of Clwyd were living in poverty in each of the last 30 years; and what projections he has made of each figure in each of the next three years.

Malcolm Wicks: Our first step towards eradicating child poverty as set out in our current Public Service Agreement target is to reduce the number of children in low-income households by a quarter by 2004–05. This is measured using the proportion of children in relative low income households. Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in 'Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 2002–03'. Data is not available below the regional level and is only available as proportions at the regional level. It should be noted that the reporting of year on year changes in the regional low-income rates are not reliable.
	The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting absolute and relative trends in low income.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		Percentage and number of children living in households with income less than 60 per cent. of median
		
			  Before housing costs After housing costs 
			  Number (million) Percentage Number (million) Percentage 
		
		
			 1979(32) 1.7 12 1.9 14 
			 1981(32) 2.4 18 2.7 20 
			 1987(32) 2.6 21 3.1 25 
			 1988–89(32) 2.9 23 3.3 26 
			 1990–91(32) 3.2 26 3.9 31 
			 1991–92(32) 3.4 27 4.1 32 
			 1992–93(32) 3.5 27 4.3 33 
			 1993–94(32) 3.3 25 4.2 32 
			 1994–95(32) 3.2 24 4.2 32 
			 1995–96(32) 3.5 26 4.6 35 
			  
			 1994–95(33) 2.9 23 4.0 32 
			 1995–96(33) 2.7 21 4.0 32 
			 1996–97(33) 3.2 25 4.3 34 
			 1997–98(33) 3.2 25 4.2 33 
			 1998–99(33) 3.1 24 4.2 33 
			 1999–2000(33) 3.0 23 4.1 32 
			 2000–01(33) 2.7 21 3.9 31 
			 2001–02(33) 2.7 21 3.8 30 
			 2002–03(33) 2.6 21 3.6 28 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Family Expenditure Survey (FES) figures are for the United Kingdom, Family Resources Survey (FRS) figures are for Great Britain.
	2. The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years.
	3. FES figures are single calendar years from 1979–87, two combined calendar years from 1998–89 to 1992–93 and two financial years combined from 1993–94 to 1995–96.
	Sources:
	(32) Family Expenditure Survey (UK)
	(33) Family Resources Survey (GB)
	'Measuring child poverty', published in December 2003, outlines the Government's measure of UK child poverty for the long-term. The measure will consist of three tiers; absolute low income, relative low income and material deprivation and low income combined. The Government will set a target as part of the 2006 SR06 Spending Review to halve by 2010–11 the numbers of children suffering a combination of material deprivation and relative low income. This new measure will commence with estimates taken from the 2004–05 Family Resources Survey. Data will not be available below the regional level.
	Future projections are unavailable.

Departmental Policies

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Reading, West constituency, the effects on Reading West of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
	Since 2001, the Government has significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Reading West will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled 3 and 4-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	In 2002–03 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
	The figures can be broken down to regional level which shows that 18 per cent. of adults and 5 per cent. of children in the south-east are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
	Information on the numbers of customers in Reading West who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) is in the following table.
	
		Reading West
		
			 Operational year DLA/AA recipients 
		
		
			 2001 3,100 
			 2002 3,200 
			 2003 3,300 
			 2004 3,600 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; in Reading West, the proportion in employment has risen to 81.3 per cent.
	Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the new deals, with 970 in Reading West alone.
	Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 2002–03) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 1996–97. Since 2001–02 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18 years old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 2001–02. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 1,400 families in Reading West.
	We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly £10 billion more in 2004–05 (in 2004–05 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
	Our reforms include the state second pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. Pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those over aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of December 2004, around 3,050 pensioners in Reading West are receiving Pension credit, with an average award of £39.12 per week.
	We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (2004–05) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of £200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and £300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70 plus payment of £100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
	The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80 plus annual payment is available in the Library.
	Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their basic state pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively. Some 14,600 pensioners in Reading West have benefited from this increase.

Housing Benefit

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the processing of housing benefit by local authorities is measured in terms of (a) efficiency, (b) accuracy and (c) fraud.

Chris Pond: The Department for Work and Pensions sets Performance Standards, which includes performance indicators, to help DWP, and local authorities themselves, assess performance in the administration of housing benefit (HB) and council tax benefit (CTB). Additionally, the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate reports to the Secretary of State on the administration of HB and CTB and, in particular, on the prevention and detection of fraud relating to these benefits.

Housing Benefit

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much housing benefit expenditure was overpaid by local authorities due to fraud and error in each year for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: We undertake a continuous measurement of fraud and error in housing benefit. The Department published "Fraud and Error in Housing Benefit, April 2002 to September 2003" on 12 August 2004. This report represents progress against the first national headline estimates, for the level of fraud and error in HB. The report is available in the Library.

Housing Benefit

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to process a claim for housing benefit was in each year since 1975.

Chris Pond: The available information is in the following table.
	
		Average number of days to process new housing benefit claims, Great Britain: April 2000 to September 2004
		
			  Days 
		
		
			 2000–01 49 
			 2001–02 53 
			 2002–03 48 
			 2003–04 45 
			 April to June 2004 45 
			 July to September 2004 43 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The average time taken to process a housing benefit (HB) claim is available for new claims only and the data is not available prior to April 2000.
	2. The figures are rounded to the nearest whole day.
	3. The figures are taken from April to March each year and are four quarter averages.
	4. 2004–05 data is available for the first two quarters only, i.e. April to September 2004.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit Management Information System Quarterly Administration Returns April 2000 to September 2004.

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the 52 week linking rule; and what qualitative research his Department has commissioned to evaluate it.

Chris Pond: The 52 week linking rule was introduced in 1998 to allow people moving off an incapacity benefit into work to re-access any higher rates of benefit that had been in payment if their job did not work out and they needed to re-claim. It was introduced as a result of research evidence which found that people feared moving off benefit in case their job did not last, leading to difficulties in requalifying for their old benefit. The importance of linking rules was confirmed in subsequent research. For example, an evaluation in 2003 of clients eligible for the new deal for disabled people identified the most important 'bridge to work' was the knowledge that they could return to their original benefit if needed.
	The Department of Social Security Research Report 141 incapacity benefits and work incentives included qualitative research into the operation of the 52 week linking rule. The conclusions of the researchers were that knowing about the linking rule could influence decisions to move into work; that it reduced some of the risks and anxieties about loss of income and security attached to moving into work and that it was generally appreciated by clients. There were also indications that lack of awareness of the rule reduced its incentive effect as did anxiety that the rule would be hard to access and there was evidence that this was the case. This has been borne out by recent research. The Department for Work and Pensions Research Report "A Stepping Stone to Employment" published last December noted the very low levels of awareness of the linking rules amongst clients on permitted work.
	The Department's five year strategy published earlier this month includes our commitment to review the operation of the linking rules to ensure that existing claimants' position is protected if they take a job and they then need to return to incapacity benefits.

Incapacity Benefit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to change the conditions for receiving income support on the grounds of incapacity.

Chris Pond: The changes to incapacity benefits as set out in the Five-Year Strategy apply equally to contributory incapacity benefit and income support on the grounds of incapacity. We will be looking to simplify current arrangements by incorporating both contributory and income-related elements into the new benefits.

Pension Credit

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many pensioners have received pension credit in the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East;
	(2)  how many pensioners benefited from the minimum income guarantee in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency in each year of its operation.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the two tables. Further information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit and average awards at 31 December 2004 is contained in the most recent quarterly Pension Credit progress report, which was published on 3 February. A copy of the report is in the Library.
	
		Table 1: Minimum income guarantee recipients, Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East, 1999–2003
		
			  Households Individuals 
		
		
			 August 1999 2,700 3,100 
			 August 2000 2,800 3,300 
			 August 2001 3,000 3,600 
			 August 2002 2,900 3,500 
			 August 2003 3,100 3,700 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been taken from a 5 per cent. sample and are subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. Individuals comprise claimants and partners and may contain a small number of partners aged under 60.
	4. Minimum income guarantee was introduced in April 1999
	5. Minimum income guarantee was replaced by pension credit from 6 October 2003.
	6. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS directory.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions, 5 per cent. sample.
	
		Table 2: Pension credit recipients, Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East, 2004
		
			 Date Households Individuals 
		
		
			 August 2004 4,955 6,120 
			 December 2004 5,055 6,250 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Figures relate to the end of the month.
	3. The figures for December 2004 are the latest available.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample.

Pensions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average charge was for selling a pension in each of the last 10 years.

Malcolm Wicks: Available information on average management charges for personal pensions over the last 10 years (including stakeholder pensions from 6 April 2001) is in the following table. The average charges are based on 25 year regular premiums of £60 per month except for 2004 which is based on £50.
	
		Average reduction in yield for personal and stakeholder pensions from 1995 to 2004 Percentage
		
			  Personal pension Stakeholder pension 
		
		
			 1995 1.9 — 
			 1996 1.9 — 
			 1997 1.8 — 
			 1998 1.7 — 
			 1999 1.6 — 
			 2000 n/a — 
			 2001 1.1 1.0 
			 2002 1.1 1.0 
			 2003 n/a n/a 
			 2004 1.1 1.0 
		
	
	The figures are from the Financial Services Authority (FSA), and its predecessor the Personal Investment Authority (PIA), who collected information on pension charges and reported this using the Reduction in Yield (RIY) measurement. This is defined as the percentage point reduction in the gross return on a pension fund as a result of explicit charges and fees. Dealing costs and other implicit charges are not included.Until 2002, the figures were collected as part of the FSA and PIA annual disclosure surveys. However, they have been replaced by online comparative tables, which give present not historical data and so some figures are unavailable.
	The RIY on personal pensions has fallen significantly since the mid 1990's, from around 1.9 per cent. in 1995 to around 1.1 per cent. in 2002, where it has remained. This drop can largely be attributed to the introduction of the stakeholder pension charge cap, currently set at 1 per cent. and the FSA restrictions on advised sales of personal pensions with significantly higher charges than this.

Pensions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of pensions were sold to each income decile of the population in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the form requested, and such information that is available is shown in the table.
	The table shows income and status of people contributing to a Personal Pension or Stakeholder Pension in the 2002–03 tax year, not people purchasing a pension product; some of the personal pensions recorded in the table will have been in existence for several years.
	The table shows that the majority of contributors to both Personal and Stakeholder Pensions are employees, with the next largest group of contributors being the self-employed. For both Personal Pensions and Stakeholder Pensions the majority of contributors in 2002–03 were those earning under £20,000 a year and there are very few contributors who are either outside normal working ages or not in employment.
	This Government wants people with modest incomes to have access to good value pensions, and to make the right pension provision for a secure retirement; Stakeholder Pensions are helping to meet this aim.
	
		Number of individuals contributing to a Personal or Stakeholder Pension by earned income and status 2002–03
		
			  Personal pensions Stakeholder pensions Personal and Stakeholder pensions 
		
		
			 Employees 4,520,000 860,000 5,130,000 
			 Of which:
			 Earning £0-£9,999 900,000 210,000 1,070,000 
			 Earning £10,000-£19,999 1,790,000 360,000 2,050,000 
			 Earning £20,000-£29,999 980,000 180,000 1,100,000 
			 Earning £30,000 plus 850,000 110,000 910,000 
			 
			 Self-Employed 980,000 130,000 1,060,000 
			 Of which:
			 Earning £0-£9,999 310,000 50,000 340,000 
			 Earning £10,000-£19,999 300,000 40,000 320,000 
			 Earning £20,000-£29,999 160,000 20,000 180,000 
			 Earning 30,000 plus 210,000 20,000 230,000 
			 
			 In receipt of a Pension 30,000 10,000 40,000 
			 Child 0 20,000 20,000 
			 Full-time Education 0 0 0 
			 Carer 0 10,000 10,000 
			 Unemployed 0 10,000 10,000 
			 Other 30,000 20,000 50,000 
			 
			 All 5,560,000 1,060,000 6,320,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The table refers to the number of individuals whose Personal or Stakeholder Pension has received a contribution during the year.
	2. Status is largely based on what is reported by an individual when making their opening application, or for existing business by the provider.
	3. Earned income is derived from the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) and consists of all income chargeable under Schedule E (mainly pay, private and occupational pensions, retirement annuities and state retirement pensions), Schedule D Cases I and II (self-employment income), and miscellaneous other earnings.
	4. The Personal and Stakeholder column includes people contributing to either, or both, a Personal and Stakeholder Pension. For this reason, it will not total the individual columns for Personal Pensions and Stakeholder Pensions.
	5. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and may not sum as a result.
	Source:
	Inland Revenue.

Pensions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the current level of stakeholder charges on the uptake of personal pensions by low income workers; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: In the period between April 2001 and September 2004 over 40 pension providers have sold nearly 2.2 million Stakeholder Pensions, and the average charge on Personal Pensions has fallen from a 1.9 per cent. Reduction In Yield in 1996 to 1.1 per cent. in 2004, a fall the Pensions Commission attributes a significant part of to the Stakeholder Pension charge cap. This fall in charges has ensured more of peoples savings go towards their retirement, and less is consumed by charges.
	However the Government recognises that it has been difficult to ensure that the pensions industry can effectively market Stakeholder Pensions within the constraints of a 1 per cent. charge cap, and to increase the proportion of under-savers actively targeted by providers the Government have, after commissioning an independent review by Deloitte, announced a revised charge cap of 1.5 per cent. for new members joining on or after 6 April 2005 for the first 10 years of membership, reverting to 1 per cent. thereafter. These changes will increase the number of under-savers the pensions industry can cost effectively target, while still ensuring good value for the consumer.

Unemployment (Ilford, North)

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in (a) youth unemployment and (b) long-term unemployment in Ilford, North on 31 December (i) 1997 and (ii) 2004.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Ms Linda Perham, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about youth and long-term unemployment in Ilford North parliamentary constituency. I am replying in his absence. (214949)
	Table 1 overleaf gives estimates of the numbers of youth and long-term unemployed people, who were resident in the Ilford North parliamentary constituency, for the twelve-month periods ending February 1998 and 2004.
	These estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are, as with any statistical sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's allowance (JSA) for local areas. Table 2 overleaf gives the annual average number of young people aged 18 to 24 years old resident in the Ilford, North parliamentary constituency claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) benefits. It also shows all JSA claimants claiming for over 12 months for the years 1997 and 2004.
	
		Table 1: Unemployed people resident in Ilford, North parliamentary constituency 12 months ending February
		
			  Youth (aged 16–24) (35)Long-term unemployed 
		
		
			 1998 1,000 1,000 
			 2004 (36)— (36)— 
		
	
	(35) Defined as one year or more.
	(36) Estimates not shown as they are potentially disclosive.
	Note:
	These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a high degree of sampling variability.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the Ilford, North parliamentary constituency
		
			  Annual averages (37)Youth claimants (aged 18–24) (37)Claimants over 12 months 
		
		
			 1997 470 725 
			 2004 320 170

Armed Forces Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many homes are provided in the UK for members of the armed forces, broken down by location at which such homes are provided; and when the last time was that properties in each location were (a) surveyed and (b) inspected.

Ivor Caplin: As at the end of January 2005, approximately 49,700 properties were provided for the families of armed forces personnel, located at over 600 sites across mainland United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Wales).
	Management of service families accommodation (SFA) is carried out by Defence Estates (DE). The housing stock is currently spread across nine regional offices, as set out in the following table. Included in the overall figures are about 1,000 substitute SFA properties, which although not managed by DE, are supplied under contract, where appropriate SFA cannot be provided from its own resources.
	Given the number of sites involved, the numbers of houses have been grouped on a regional basis.
	
		
			 Region Total SFA provided 1 
		
		
			 Anglia (covering Norfolk and Suffolk areas) 5,750 
			 Central (covering Bucks, Oxon, and parts of Wiltshire) 5,800 
			 London (covering locations within the M25) 3,600 
			 North (covering counties to the east ) 7,150 
			 Scotland 3,900 
			 South east (covering Portsmouth and Kent areas) 4,500 
			 South (covering parts of Surrey, Hampshire, Wiltshire and  Dorset) 9,550 
			 South west (covering Somerset, Cornwall and parts of  Wiltshire) 5,250 
			 West (covering Wales and the western counties) 4,200 
		
	
	(37) As at end January 2005
	The majority of the housing stock was surveyed as a single exercise in the period 1997–98 to achieve a database of the condition of the stock, and provide the necessary information for investment decisions concerning an ongoing upgrade programme. Following that major exercise, properties are subject to further survey as required, for example when a package of properties is identified for upgrading. To set out the details for each individual location would incur disproportionate effort.

Armed Forces Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by his Department on housing for members of the armed forces in (a) the UK and (b) abroad, broken down by (i) revenue and (ii) capital for each year since 1992 (A) in nominal terms and (B) at 2003–04 prices; and what the projected spending is for the next three years.

Ivor Caplin: Details of Ministry of Defence's housing expenditure are set out in the published accounts for the former Defence Housing Executive for 2001–02 to 2003–04 and these are available in the Library of the House.
	The information sought for years prior to 2001–02 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Projected spending for the next three years is still under consideration.
	I will write to the hon. Member with regard to the requested information on overseas housing.

Defence Logistic Organisation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Department's Defence Logistic Organisation employees are located in the West Midlands region.

Adam Ingram: As at 1 January 2005 a total of 2,110 Defence Logistic Organisation civilian personnel were located in the West Midlands.
	The civilian personnel figure listed above uses the revised definition of civilian personnel (see www.dasa. mod.uk for details), and is based on full time equivalent (FTE) data.
	For Service Personnel, data by budgetary area for the United Kingdom as a whole are collated annually and presented in Table 2.2 of UKDS, a copy of which is held in the Library of the House.
	DASA are currently reviewing the source data and process by which UK Location statistics for Service Personnel are compiled. New figures will not be available until the review is complete. The outcome of this review is due to be announced later this month.

Landing Ships Contract

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the original contract price was for the delivery by Swan Hunter of two landing ships dock (auxiliary) vessels; and whether there has been a change in that contractual price since award of the contract.

Adam Ingram: The original contract with Swan Hunter for design and build of two LSD(A)s was valued at £148 million. This has since been increased to £232 million, with a further £3 million added to cover enhancements that have included aspects to ensure the vessels comply with the latest statutory safety requirements.

Overseas Defence Estates

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the defence estates the Department has overseas.

Ivor Caplin: The MOD overseas estate comprises airfields, ports, warehousing, barracks, schools, technical facilities and supporting infrastructure (power, water, wastewater, communications, etc.), Service Family Accommodation (SFA), commercial facilities and training areas. Details are as follows.
	
		
			 Country Facility 
		
		
			 Bahamas Autos Island 
			 Belize Price Barracks—HQ British Army Training Support Unit Belize 4Xother training areas adventure training facility 
			 Brunei (facilities owned and operated by Brunei Government) 
			 Canada Suffield—British Army Training Unit Suffield Goose Bay—in process of handback Wain right Camp—in process of handback 
			 Kenya Kifaru Camp Nairobi—British Army Training Unit Kenya Extensive leased up-country training areas 
			 Nepal Kathmandu—HQ Brigade of Gurkhas Nepal, Pokhara 
			 Norway Stavangar, Bardufoss 
			 Singapore Sembawang 
			 South Atlantic Falkland Islands, Ascension Island and St. Helena— weather station 
			 USA Washington DC (leased SFA) 
			 Cyprus Episkopi Garrison RAF Akrotiri Dhekelia Garrison Troodos/Olympus Aya Nikolaos Station 
			 Diego Garcia Port and Storage facilities (all other facilities owned and operated by the USAF) 
			 Gibraltar Gibraltar Garrison and other facilities 
			 Falkland Islands Mount Pleasant Airfield Various hill top Radar/Tech sites Various helicopter Re-fuelling sites 
		
	
	All of the estate in Germany is owned by the German government and occupied by MOD under SOFA and its supplementary agreements. The German estate is located within five main garrison areas:
	
		
			 Country Facility 
		
		
			 Hohne Garrison, including: Fallingbostel and Celle 
			 Osnabrück Garrison, including: Munster and Rhiene 
			 Gütersloh Garrison, including: Herford, Bielefeld, Lubbecke and Bunde 
			 Paderborn Garrison, including: Sennelager and Hameln 
			 Rhine Garrison, including: JHQ Rheindahlen, Dulmen and Elmpt 
		
	
	Additionally there are major training areas located at Senne and Haltern and smaller training areas in Paderborn, Gütersloh, Osnabrück and Rhine Garrisons.
	In addition, a small numbers of leased properties are occupied in:
	
		
			 Country Facility 
		
		
			 Belgium Brussels, Antwerp, Mons 
			 Germany Ramstein 
			 Holland Brunssum 
			 Italy Rome, Milan, Naples, Verona 
			 Norway Stavangar 
			 Portugal Lisbon 
			 Spain Madrid, Valencia 
			 Turkey Izmir, Istanbul 
			 Russia Moscow (one residence)

Rapid Deployment

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to procure equipment to improve the rapid deployability of the British armed forces.

Adam Ingram: The 'Future Capabilities' White Paper published in July 2003 explains how we plan to make the armed forces more flexible and deployable. At sea, deployability has already been improved through six new Roll-On-Roll-Off ships. A robust and modern amphibious capability, based around two new ships, HMS Alibon and Bulwark, supported by the Bay Class landing ships, will provide a step change in our ability to launch and support forces ashore. For the Army, there will be a shift in emphasis towards light and medium weight forces. These will be supported by a number of new equipment programmes, including the Future Rapid Effects System family of vehicles and the Light Mobile Artillery Weapon System. In the air, as well as introducing 25 A400M aircraft from 2011, we now intend to buy our current fleet of four leased C-17 aircraft together with one additional aircraft, significantly increasing our strategic lift capability.

St. John's Wood Barracks

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of St. John's Wood barracks; and for how long he expects the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery to be stationed there.

Ivor Caplin: There are currently no plans to relocate the King's Troop from St. John's Wood barracks, which is occupied by the Ministry of Defence under a lease agreement. The lease is due to expire in 2012. As with all lease arrangements within the Department, our requirements beyond the expiry date will be subject to review.

Submarines

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Submarine Acquisition Modernisation Initiative: who the participants are; and what the (a) purpose and (b) timescale of its work is.

Adam Ingram: The purpose of the Submarine Acquisition Modernisation (SAM) project is, through a coherent, long-term approach to the management of the nuclear submarine programme, to implement a more efficient, more effective and sustainable submarine enterprise through life, leading to a significant reduction in whole life costs and greater submarine availability.
	SAM is a joint project, with MOD and industry working in collaboration. It is led by a MOD team leader, with membership drawn from BAE Systems, Devonport Management Limited, Babcock Naval Services and Rolls Royce, together with key MOD project and change management teams. The aim is to reach agreement in principle on the future management arrangements during spring 2005. Subject to approval by Government and industry stakeholders, the long-term aim is to begin implementation by early 2007.
	The SAM project forms part of a wider strategy for optimising the UK industrial maritime base: other elements include the UK Naval Shipbuilding Industrial Strategy which is currently addressing future loading and skills retention within the surface shipbuilding industry, and the Surface Ship Support Study, which is addressing the in-service support strategy for surface ships.

Warships

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what he expects the average age by 2009 of the Royal Navy's (a) frigate fleet and (b) destroyer fleet to be.

Adam Ingram: By 2009 the average age of a Royal Navy frigate will be around 15 years and of a destroyer around 25 years.

Warships

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new (a) frigates and (b) destroyers will be delivered to the Royal Navy between 2005 and 2009.

Adam Ingram: The first of class type 45 destroyer, HMS Daring, is planned to enter service in 2009. There are no plans to deliver any new Royal Navy frigates or destroyers before then.

Accident and Emergency Services

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of (a) the new general practitioner contract and (b) the four-hour waiting time target for accident and emergency attendances on the demand for accident and emergency services.

Rosie Winterton: The available evidence shows no relationship between the new general practitioner contract and demand for accident and emergency (A and E) services. Rising demand for emergency care is a trend that long predates this change or the four hour A and E target.
	Factors involved in recent reported rises in demand include the better range of services now available, together with the improved reporting and increased patient satisfaction that the progress in cutting A and E waits has delivered.

Accident and Emergency Services

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been treated in accident and emergency departments in hospitals in Worcestershire in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Data were not collected centrally on an individual trust basis prior to 2000–01. The table shows the number of first attendances, follow up attendances and total attendances for the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust from 2000–01 up to and including the second quarter of 2004–05.
	
		
			  First attendances Follow up attendances Total attendances 
		
		
			 2000–01(38) 115,644 6,702 122,346 
			 2001–02(38) 114,966 7,302 122,268 
			 2002–03(39) 116,366 7,556 123,922 
			 2003–04(39) 120,407 7,406 127,813 
			 2004–05 quarters 1 and 2(39) 66,892 2,006 68,898 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures include attendances at major accident and emergency departments and minor injuries units. The figures include all type 1 (major A and E), 2 or 3 (which include minor injuries units and walk-in-centres) A and E services that a trust provides.
	Sources:
	(38) Department of Health form KH09.
	(39) Department of Health dataset QMAE.

Accident and Emergency Services

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to relocate the accident and emergency department at the Royal County Hospital, Winchester.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 9 February 2005
	In line with our policy of Shifting the Balance of Power, decisions about the configuration of local health services are made locally by primary care trusts in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community, including the provision of accident and emergency services.

Alcohol Misuse

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the incidence of alcohol-related problems in the under 60s.

Melanie Johnson: The alcohol harm reduction strategy for England takes a cross Government approach to reducing harm caused by alcohol. Data is listed from hospital episode statistics where the primary diagnosis or cause code shows incidence of alcohol- related problems available specifically for the age range 'under 60s'.
	
		Counts of finished in-year admissions where there was a primary diagnosis code or cause code for selected alcohol related diseases. Age at admission up to 60 years—national health service hospitals, England 2003–04
		
			 Primary diagnosis Admissions 
		
		
			 F10.0—Acute intoxication 8,937 
			 F10.1—Harmful use 2,012 
			 F10.2—Dependence syndrome 8,946 
			 F10.3—Withdrawal state 6,023 
			 F10.4—Withdrawal state with delirium 858 
			 F10.5—Psychotic disorder 370 
			 F10.6—Amnesic syndrome 142 
			 F10.7—Residual and late-onset psychotic disorder 52 
			 F10.8—Other mental and behavioural disorders 52 
			 F10.9—Unspecified mental and behavioural disorders 506 
			 K70—Alcoholic liver disease 9,543 
			 T51—Toxic effect of alcohol 1,424 
			   
			 Cause code  
			 X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Finished in-year admissions—A finished in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the datayear. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. Diagnosis (primary diagnosis)—The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3. Cause code—The cause code is a supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects.
	4. Ungrossed data—Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

Ambulance Drivers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for UK ambulance drivers' working time limits of European Court of Justice cases C-397/01 to C403/01, reference OJ C300 vol. 47 of 4 December 2004.

John Hutton: The Pfeiffer judgment should not have implications for United Kingdom ambulance staff because the vast majority work less than 48 hours per week, on average. Ambulance staff who sign the individual opt-out can legitimately work more than an average of 48 hours per week.

Cancer Specialists

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many trained cancer specialists were practising in England (a) by headcount and (b) expressed as a whole-time equivalent figure in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many cancer specialist students began training in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many cancer specialists qualified in each year since 1997; and what his policy is on the optimum number of cancer specialists.

John Hutton: holding answer 10 February 2005
	The number of consultants, within the cancer specialties, who were working in the national health service since September 1997 is shown in table one.
	The number of staff in the registrar group within the cancer specialties, in each year since September 1997 is shown in table two.
	The number of specialist registrars who became consultants within the cancer specialties in each year since September 1997 is shown in table three.
	It is for cancer networks, in partnership with strategic health authority workforce development directorates and postgraduate deaneries, to plan their workforce. This includes the education and training needs of all staff and will be linked to local and national priorities for cancer.
	
		Table 1: Hospital, medical consultants within the cancer specialties numbers (headcount) and whole time equivalents
		
			  September 1997 September 1998 September 1999 September 2000 September 2001 
			  no wte no wte no wte no wte no wte 
		
		
			 All 'Cancer' specialities 3,155 2,897 3,273 2,991 3,362 3,082 3,528 3,183 3,721 3,331 
			 Clinical oncology 287 265 299 277 305 283 307 279 333 299 
			 Clinical radiology 1,442 1,364 1,481 1,387 1,507 1,414 1,585 1,460 1,645 1,492 
			 Haematology 488 447 478 437 510 465 527 475 556 500 
			 Histopathology 769 692 828 748 836 760 865 778 915 827 
			 Medical oncology 89 68 102 79 110 87 133 103 147 120 
			 Palliative medicine 80 61 85 64 94 73 111 88 125 94 
		
	
	
		
			  March 2002 September 2002 March 2003 June 2003 September 2003 
			  no wte no wte no wte no wte no wte 
		
		
			 All 'Cancer' specialities 3,864 3,534 3,913 3,569 4,059 3,704 4,096 3,730 4,169 3,787 
			 Clinical oncology 316 292 315 295 366 334 367 337 347 325 
			 Clinical radiology 1,679 1,575 1,702 1,582 1,781 1,658 1,794 1,669 1,810 1,669 
			 Haematology 575 521 588 532 598 541 590 530 609 549 
			 Histopathology 959 876 968 882 994 915 1,015 936 1,021 939 
			 Medical oncology 183 151 185 152 172 141 176 141 202 167 
			 Palliative medicine 152 118 155 125 148 114 154 118 180 138 
		
	
	
		
			  December 2003 March 2004 June 2004 
			  no wte no wte no wte 
		
		
			 All 'Cancer' specialities 4,240 3,841 4,332 3,932 4,337 3,940 
			 Clinical oncology 358 332 376 347 381 353 
			 Clinical radiology 1,822 1,680 1,862 1,720 1,859 1,721 
			 Haematology 632 568 32 567 632 569 
			 Histopathology 1,036 950 1,070 985 1,075 986 
			 Medical oncology 211 173 197 164 195 160 
			 Palliative medicine 181 138 95 149 195 151 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
	
		Table 2: Hospital, Public Health medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): New cancer registrars(40)1998–2003 England, as at 30 Septembernumbers (headcount)
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 All cancer specialties 370 421 473 478 590 520 517 
			 of which:
			 Medical oncology 26 56 59 48 48 48 67 
			 Clinical oncology 54 46 51 52 70 68 52 
			 Haematology 56 72 86 58 82 90 76 
			 Histopathology 61 68 77 73 125 107 100 
			 Clinical radiology 153 157 188 208 238 180 191 
			 Palliative medicine 20 22 12 39 27 27 31 
		
	
	(40) The term "new cancer registrars" denotes those registrars who have a cancer specialty, and did not appear in the census as registrars in the previous year.
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
	
		Table 3: Hospital, Public Health medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): New cancer consultants(41) 1998–2003 England, as at 30 Septembernumbers (headcount)
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 All cancer specialties 120 113 99 114 130 123 140 
			 of which:
			 Medical oncology 5 5 1 9 10 9 11 
			 Clinical oncology 15 19 16 14 14 15 14 
			 Haematology 13 14 12 14 20 12 18 
			 Histopathology 35 22 21 17 29 18 16 
			 Clinical radiology 50 50 45 55 52 60 77 
			 Palliative medicine 2 3 4 5 5 9 4 
		
	
	(41) The term "new cancer consultants" denotes those consultants who have a cancer specialty, and who appeared in the census as a registrar in the previous year.
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

Care Homes

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) privately owned and (b) local authority owned nursing and residential homes are located in the Easington constituency; and what the bed capacity is of each.

Melanie Johnson: Data are not available for the area requested. Information on the number of independent and local authority-owned care homes and places for adults aged 18 and over in County Durham at 31 March 2001 is shown in the table.
	I understand from the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that figures for later years were collected by the National Care Standards Commission, and now CSCI, but comparable details are not available.
	
		Number of independent and local authority-owned care homes and places for adults aged 18 and over in County Durham(42), 31 March 2001
		
			  Residential Nursing(43) Total 3 
			  Local authority Independent Independent  
		
		
			 Homes 40 220 100 350 
			 Places 1,080 4,000 3,250 8,330 
		
	
	(42) Nursing care relates to County Durham health authority; residential care relates to Durham and Darlington councils with social services responsibilities.
	(43) Nursing home figures include places in general nursing homes, mental nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics.
	(44) Figures may not add up due to rounding.
	Source:
	RA and RH(N) form A

Care Homes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) privately owned and (b) local authority owned care homes there are in the Vale of York; where each is located; and what the bed capacity of each is.

Melanie Johnson: Data are not available for the area requested. Information on the number of independent and local authority-owned care homes and places for adults aged 18 and over in North Yorkshire at 31 March 2001 is shown in the table.
	Information on individual locations of care homes and the capacity of each is not available centrally.
	I understand from the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that figures for later years were collected by the National Care Standards Commission, and now CSCI, but comparable details are not available.
	
		Number of independent and local authority-owned care homes and places for adults aged 18 and over in North Yorkshire(45) at 31 March 2001 Rounded numbers
		
			  Independent 2,3 Local authority(48) 
		
		
			 Homes 510 40 
			 Places 9,230 1,320 
		
	
	(45) Nursing care relates to North Yorkshire health authority; residential care relates to York and North Yorkshire councils with social services responsibilities.
	(46) Independent home figures includes nursing and residential care homes
	(47) Nursing home figures include places in general nursing homes, mental nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics.
	(48) Local authority home figures include residential care homes only.
	Source:
	RA and RH(N) form A

Consultants

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant urologists are working in the NHS in the areas served by the (a) Birmingham and Black Country and (b) West Midlands South strategic health authority; and how many are over the age of 55 years in each case.

Stephen Ladyman: The table shows the numbers of hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS): consultants within the urology speciality in Birmingham and the Black Country strategic health authority (SHA) and West Midlands South SHA, and the numbers in each SHA within the specified age group.
	
		Number (headcount)
		
			 As at 30 June 2004 All ages Of which: 55 and over 
		
		
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 25 9 
			 West Midlands South 15 4 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

Consultants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure by his Department on external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii) 2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08.

Rosie Winterton: Expenditure by the Department on external consultancy and professional services in each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1996–97 14.699 
			 1997–98 12.694 
			 1998–99 7.332 
			 1999–2000 8.132 
			 2000–01 6.531 
			 2001–02 6.800 
			 2002–03 7.266 
			 2003–04 10.031 
		
	
	Centrally held estimated consultancy costs for later years are not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to attract more dentists to the Community Dental Service.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 31 January 2005
	On 15 December 2004, we issued for consultation a report, "Creating the Future: Modernising careers for salaried dentists in primary care", copies of which are available in the Library. The report proposes reforms to the roles, education and career structures of salaried primary care dentists—those working in community dental services, salaried personal dental services and dental access centres, and salaried general dental practitioners—and the framework of leadership and pay principles within the context of wider reform of national health service dentistry. The consultation period ends on 31 March 2005.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS (a) general dental service and (b) personal dental service dentists have left the NHS for wholly private practice in (i) England, (ii) each strategic health authority and (iii) each primary care trust in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 1 February 2005
	We do not routinely collect information about dentists' private practice. The great majority of dental practices treat both private and national health service patients. The Office of Fair Trading Report, "The private dentistry market in the UK", published in March 2003, estimated that, out of 11,000 dental practices, about 210 are totally private. We are not aware of any dentists with personal dental service contracts who have sought to reduce the value of their contractual commitment to the NHS.

Departmental Expenditure (Research and Development)

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what expenditure was made by (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which his Department is responsible on research projects by private sector companies in each financial year since 2001–02;
	(2)  what expenditure (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which his Department is responsible have made on research and development by private sector companies in each financial year since 2001–02;
	(3)  how much and what percentage of the expenditure of each agency sponsored by his Department went on research and development in each year between 2001–02 and 2003–04;
	(4)  what expenditure was made by (a) the Department and (b) agencies for which the Department is responsible to research and development projects undertaken by organisations other than university departments, Government-funded research establishments and private sector companies in each year since 2001–02.

Melanie Johnson: The information available is shown in the tables.
	
		Department of Health £000
		
			 Research and Development (R&D) Expenditure 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 on research and development by private sector companies (49)312 0 (49)25 
			 on research projects by companies with HQ in the UK (49)312 0 (49)25 
			 on research projects by companies with HQ in other EU member states 0 0 0 
			 on research projects by companies with HQ in non-EU member states 0 0 0 
			 on R&D relating to UK University Departments and research centres 91,722 85,621 n/a 
			 on R&D undertaken by organisations other than university departments,  Government-funded research establishments and private sector companies (49)90 (49)425 (49)709 
		
	
	
		Agencies for which the Department of Health is responsible £000
		
			 Research and Development (R&D) Expenditure 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 on research and development by private sector companies (49)112 (49)273 0 
			 on research projects by companies with HQ in the UK (49)112 (49)273 0 
			 on research projects by companies with HQ in other EU member states 0 0 0 
			 on research projects by companies with HQ in non-EU member states 0 0 0 
			 on R&D development relating to UK University Departments and research 397 433 511 
			 on R&D undertaken by organisations other than university departments,  Government-funded research establishments and private sector companies (49)15 (49)15 0 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	(49) Total value of contracts that began in these financial years,

Departmental Policies (Gravesham)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical information as directly related as possible to the constituency, the effect on the constituency of North Durham of his Department's policies since June 2001.

Melanie Johnson: The Government has put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the North Durham constituency.
	For example:
	At the end of November 2004, the number of people waiting more than nine months for in-patient treatment within Durham and Chester-Le-Street primary care trust (PCT) had fallen to 0, from 284 in June 2002.
	At the end of November 2004 the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for out-patient treatment within Durham and Chester-Le-Street PCT had fallen to 149, from 1,048 in June 2002.
	Figures for December 2004 show that all patients within Durham and Chester-Le-Street PCT are able to be offered an appointment with a general practitioner within two working days, an improvement from 89.6 per cent., in June 2002.
	Durham and Chester-Le-Street PCTs financial allocation increased to £142.5 million for 2004–05, a real terms increase of 6.3 per cent. By 2007–08 the PCTs financial allocation will increase to £197.6 million.
	Between September 2003 and June 2004 the number of consultants at County Durham and Darlington acute hospitals NHS trusts has increased from 182 to 191. There were 1,946 nurses at the trust in September 2003.
	In the Derwentside local authority area death rates from cancer per 100,000 population were 219.5 in 2003, compared with 228.4 in 1997.
	In the Derwentside local authority area death rates from coronary heart disease per 100,000 population were 144.6 in 2003, compared with 219.0 in 1997.
	In February 2002 and December 2004 new computed tomography scanners were delivered to the County Durham and Darlington acute hospitals NHS trust.
	In February 2002 a new magnetic resonance imaging scanner was delivered to the trust.
	Sources
	Department of Health, Office of National Statistics

Departmental Policies (Gravesham)

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Reading, West constituency, the effects on Reading, West of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The Government has put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Reading area.
	For example:
	At the end of November 2004, the number of people waiting more than nine months for in-patient treatment within Reading primary care trust (PCT) area has fallen to zero from 365 in June 2002.
	At the end of September 2004, the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for out-patient treatment within Reading PCT area has fallen to 211 from 1,250 in June 2002.
	In 2003, at the Royal Berkshire and Battle hospitals NHS trust 82.4 per cent. of patients spent less than four hours in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. Figures for September 2004 show an improvement of 97 per cent.
	Between September 1997 and June 2004, the number of consultants at the Royal Berkshire and Battle hospitals NHS trust has increased from 109 to 158. The number of nurses from 1,332 in September 1997 to 1,498 in September 2003.
	Figures for December 2004 show that 100 per cent. of patients within Reading PCT area able to be offered an appointment with a primary care professional within two working days.
	In the Reading local authority area, death rates from cancer per 100,000 population have fallen from 179.9 in 1997 to 184.1 in 2003.
	In the Reading local authority area, death rates from coronary heart disease per 100,000 population have fallen from 133.7 in 1997 to 111.9 in 2003.
	Reading PCT has received an allocation of £175.8 million in 2004–05. In recently announced PCT allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08, Reading PCT will receive an increase of over £19 million (9.1 per cent.) in 2006–07, and an increase of over £21 million (9.2 per cent.) in 2007–08. By 2007–08 Reading PCT will receive an allocation of £249.3 million.
	Notes
	1. Rates per 100,000 population standardised to the European Standard Population. 2. The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) for 1997, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) for 2003. The codes used are listed as follows: Cancer (malignant neoplasms)—ICD-9140–208; ICD-10 COO-C97; Coronary Heart Disease—ICD-9 410–414; ICD-10120–125. 3. Usual residents of this area. 4. Deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Design

Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who the ministerial design champion for his Department is.

John Hutton: The Ministerial design champion for the Department is the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Lords) Lord Warner.

Delayed Discharges

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will encourage hospitals to discharge patients into the community for treatment as soon as clinically possible to reduce exposure to MRSA and other hospital acquired infections;
	(2)  what guidance he has given to primary care trusts on funding the treatment of patients once they are discharged into the community to complete their treatment.

Stephen Ladyman: In England, the Government are committed to reducing the number of delayed discharges from hospital. The launch of the "Cash for Change" programme in 2001 signalled the Government's determination to tackle the problem of delayed hospital discharges through a major cash investment of £300 million over two years. By 2006, older people's services will receive an extra £1 billion a year to expand home care services, extra care housing, community equipment, services for carers and intermediate care. The number of delayed discharges has fallen from 7,065 to 2,742 between September 2001 and June 2004.
	Since 5 January 2004, if a patient remains in hospital because social services have not provided the assessments or services the patient or their carer needs to be safely discharged, the local authority is liable to pay the national health service a charge per day of delay. The charge has been set at a level higher than the cost of providing services to support discharge and will act as an incentive to councils to improve their assessment and service provision. It also acts as a stimulus to ensure prompt discharge.
	Hospitals are expected to take all practical measures to safeguard their patients from health care associated infections, as set out in the Chief Medical Officer's strategy "Winning Ways", published in December 2003.
	It is for primary care trusts to manage their obligations effectively, within the total resources available to them. The position in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The Experts' Committee established under Article 10 of European Union Directive 2001/37/EC has to date met three times on 23 September, 2002 (Italian presidency), 10 February 2003 (Irish presidency) and 15 November 2004 (Dutch presidency), each time at the headquarters of the European Commission in Luxembourg. The United Kingdom was represented at two of those meetings by a departmental official. However, no official attendance list was kept. A summary record of each of the meetings can be found on the European Commission website at www.europa.eu.int/comm/index en.htm. In addition, an ad hoc expert working group on the directive met in September 2003 and 18 February 2004. The UK expert's role was to provide an update on regulation of tobacco nationally and to provide an update on the implementation of the Directive in the UK. The UK Government's priorities for the work of the expert committee are to ensure that the Directive provisions are implemented effectively across the EU and that the Directive is strengthened in line with responses to the 2004 consultation.

General Practitioners

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by name and address each of the general practitioner surgeries in (a) Mendip primary care trust (PCT), (b) South Somerset PCT, (c) Somerset Coast PCT and (d) Taunton Deane PCT; and what is the number of full-time equivalent (i) doctors and (ii) nursing staff in each.

Rosie Winterton: The names and address of general practitioner surgeries in each of the areas above and number of full-time equivalent doctors and nursing staff are not held centrally. However, the list of names and addresses for general medical practitioners for each of the primary care trusts in Somerset can be found at the following website: http://195.105.0.110/pcis/gpreports.asp

General Practitioners

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners were practising in the London borough of Redbridge at 31 December (a) 1997 and (b) 2004.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department does not hold the number of general practitioners in the London borough of Redbridge from 1997. However, the table shows the number of GPs in North East London from 1997 and the number of GPs in Redbridge Primary Care Trust from 2001.
	
		All practitioners (excluding retainers registrars and locums) 1 as at 1997 2001 and June 2004 for specified organisations Number (headcount)
		
			   1997 2001 June 2004 
		
		
			 Q06 North East London 849 855 927 
			 SNA Redbridge PCT — 111 118 
		
	
	(50) All practitioners (excluding retainers, registrars and locums) include general medical service (GMS) unrestricted principals, personal medical service (PMS) contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other and flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	Note:
	Data as at 1 October 1997, 30 September 2001 and 30 June 2004.
	Source:
	Department of Health GMS and PMS statistics.

Health Professionals

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to ensure that numbers of health professionals in London's schools are sufficient; and if he will make a statement:
	(2)  how much the NHS has spent on school nurses in each constituency in London in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many children per school nurse there have been in each London constituency in each year since 1997;
	(4)  how many schools in each constituency in London have had a full-time school nurse in each year since 1997;
	(5)  which health professionals are employed in London's schools.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on the number of school nurses employed in the national health service was collected in the September 2004 non-medical workforce census. This data will be published shortly. In line with our policy of "Shifting the Balance of Power", it is the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs), in conjunction with strategic health authorities, to ensure that services meet the needs of their local communities.
	The Department recognises the important role that school nurses have to play in addressing health priorities, and this has been reinforced in the children's national service framework and the Chief Nursing Officer's review of the nursing, midwifery and health visiting contribution to vulnerable children and young people. We are providing new funding so that by 2010 every PCT, working with children's trusts and local authorities will be resourced to have at least one full-time, year-round qualified school nurse working with a group of primary schools and its related secondary school.

Health Professionals

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what tests are conducted on health professionals trained in England for (a) HIV, (b) tuberculosis and (c) hepatitis B.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is contained in the recent publication from NHS Employers: "The management of health, safety and welfare issues for NHS staff" which is available at http://www.nhsemployers.org/docs/blue book complete.pdf

Health Services (North Durham)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of capital of expenditure on health care was in North Durham in (a) 2001 and (b) the last year for which figures are available.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the following table and is based on the net book value of purchased capital additions for the national health service trusts and primary care trusts in the North Durham area.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2001–02 18,145 
			 2003–04 11,454 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures in the table do not include Private Finance Initiative (PFI) expenditure where PFI costs are revenue expenditure in the books of NHS bodies.
	2. Capital investment will vary between years owing to the investment decisions at individual NHS bodies.
	Sources:
	1. Audited summarisation schedules of relevant NHS trusts 2001–02 and 2003–04
	2. Audited summarisation schedules of relevant primary care trusts 2003–04

Health Services (Stockton, South)

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the number of (a) nurses and (b) doctors employed in Stockton, South has changed since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested for those national health service organisations serving the Stockton, South constituency is shown in the tables.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Doctors1 and General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers)2 for specified organisations
		
			   As at 30 September 
			   1997 2003 
			   All Doctors Doctors 
		
		
			 Q10 County Durham & Tees Valley 2,015 2,329 
			 Of which:
			 RRY Hartlepool & East Durham NHS Trust 126 n/a 
			 RCH North Tees Health NHS Trust 166 n/a 
			 5E1 North Tees PCT n/a 141 
			 RVW North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust n/a 318 
			   292 459 
		
	
	n/a = Not applicable.
	(51) Excludes Hospital Medical Hospital Practitioners and Hospital Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part-time in hospitals.
	Note:
	Data as at 30 September every year.
	Sources:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
	Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.
	Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census.
	
		Qualified Nursing, Midwifery & health visiting staff and Practice Nurses for organisations serving the Stockton South constituency
		
			   As at 30 September 
			   Nurses 
			   1997 2004 
		
		
			 Q10 County Durham & Tees Valley 7,732 9,084 
			 Of which:
			 RRY Hartlepool & East Durham NHS Trust 710 n/a 
			 RCH North Tees Health NHS Trust 951 n/a 
			 5E1 North Tees PCT n/a 307 
			 RVW North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust n/a 1,237 
			   1,661 1,544 
		
	
	n/a = Not applicable.
	Note:
	Data as at 30 September every year.
	Sources:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
	Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census.

Health Services (Stockton, South)

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many senior citizens in Stockton, South have received (a) free eye tests and (b) assistance for glasses and contact lenses since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: Figures for the number of sight tests and vouchers by constituency and for senior citizens are not collected centrally. The nearest available is for patients aged 60 and over for sight tests, at former health authority (HA) or current primary care trust (PCT) levels.
	The table shows the number of national health service sight tests paid by Tees HA for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2003 and the four PCTs covering the Stockton South constituency for the year ending 31 March 2004.
	
		General ophthalmic services: number of sight tests paid by HAs and primary care PCTs covering the Stockton South constituency for patients aged 60 and over for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2004
		
			   HA name/ PCT name Number of sight tests for aged 60 and over (thousand) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 Tees HA 40.9 
			 2000–01 Tees HA 39.8 
			 2001–02 Tees HA 42.5 
			 2002–03 Tees HA 42.9 
			
			 2003–04 North Tees PCT 13.2 
			  Hartlepool PCT 10.7 
			  Middlesbrough PCT 15.3 
			  Langbaurgh PCT 10.1 
			
			 2003–04 Total 49.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Eligibility for NHS sight tests was extended to patients aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999. PCTs took over responsibilities from HAs in October 2002.
	2. Sight tests can not be equated to the numbers of patients. Although most people do not come back for a sight test within the year, some patients suffering from medical conditions are advised to have re-examinations sooner.
	3. Patients aged 60 and over are not eligible for free NHS optical vouchers for help towards glasses or contact lenses on age grounds. However, some patients will be eligible under other category such as adult income support, Pension Credits guarantee credit or holders of HC2/HC3 certificates. It is not possible to break down voucher numbers by age for these categories.

Healthy Eating (Hospitals)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on promoting healthy eating in hospitals.

Melanie Johnson: The 2004 White Paper, "Choosing Health" commits the Government to developing nutritional standards for all foods provided by the national health service, increasing access to a range of healthier foods and taking account of the different formats of provision including restaurant, fast food and vending.
	The NHS recipe book, issued in May 2001 as part of the better hospital food programme, also requires hospitals to meet estimated average requirements for food energy, and reference nutrient intake for all other nutrients. These standards were set by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy, now known as the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.

Men's Health Tsar

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will appoint a men's health tsar.

Melanie Johnson: The Government's White Paper "Choosing Health" sets out a number of measures for the prevention of ill health in the population. The Department's work in the prevention and treatment of cancer and coronary heart disease will have a significant impact on men's health and the concerted action across Government to tackle root causes of ill-health in housing, education, employment and the environment should also have a positive impact. Therefore, the Department is not considering the appointment of a men's health tsar.

Midwifery

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of health authorities in England and Wales are experiencing staffing shortages in midwifery.

John Hutton: The national health survey vacancy survey collects information from NHS organisations on the number and rate of vacancies lasting three months or more. The table shows the rate of vacancies lasting three months or more for midwives by strategic health authority area.
	
		Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2004NHS three-month vacancies by Government office region, strategic health authority area, qualified midwifery staff
		
			   Qualified midwives 
			   3 month vacancy March 2004 Staff in post September 2003 
			   Rate percentage Number Whole-time equivalent Headcount 
		
		
			 England  3.3 619 18,444 23,941 
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA 4.8 36 709 991 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA 14.3 72 444 587 
			 Q03 Essex SHA 4.1 20 493 640 
			 Q04 North West London SHA 7.4 47 634 842 
			 Q05 North Central London SHA 9.1 49 499 638 
			 Q06 North East London SHA 6.4 42 694 871 
			 Q07 South East London SHA 8.7 64 730 988 
			 Q08 South West London SHA 10.2 48 468 642 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA 0.0 — 532 651 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley SH 2.7 13 457 554 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA 1.9 10 518 647 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire SHA 1.2 11 877 1,056 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 0.0 — 705 882 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester SHA 0.6 8 1,335 1,629 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA 1.7 17 1,008 1,298 
			 Q16 Thames Valley SHA 2.1 15 686 933 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA 1.1 6 542 727 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway SHA 8.0 43 516 700 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex SHA 5.4 45 739 1,013 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 0.0 — 833 1,131 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula SHA 0.5 3 614 806 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset SHA 0.0 — 355 451 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire SHA 0.5 3 553 679 
			 Q24 Trent SHA 0.4 3 819 1,073 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA 0.5 2 512 679 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA 2.4 13 516 665 
			 Q27 Birmingham and The Black Country SHA 4.0 43 1,078 1,399 
			 Q28 West Midlands South SHA 0.9 5 576 769 
		
	
	Notes:
	Three-month vacancy:
	1. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2004
	2. Three month vacancies are vacancies which Trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents)
	3. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post
	4. Three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the Vacancy Survey, March 2004
	5. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place
	6. Figures where sum of staff in post (as at 31 March 2004) and vacancies is less than 10
	7. Figures where sum of staff in post (as at 31 March 2004) and vacancies is zero
	Staff in post:
	1. Staff in post data is from the Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2003
	General:
	1. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number
	2. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates
	3. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts
	4. Strategic HA figures are based on trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of health care
	5. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust cannot be assigned to a particular Strategic Health Authority
	Sources:
	Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2004
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2003

Midwifery

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of midwifery students left their course before completion in each of the last five years.

John Hutton: Information for England on the percentage of pre-registration midwifery students who have left their university course is shown in the table. Data is not held before the 1994–95 financial year. No data is available for 2001–02. The attrition data for the 2002–03 academic year administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency is in the process of being analysed.
	
		
			  Percentage failing to complete courses 
		
		
			 1994–95 22.08 
			 1995–96 17.43 
			 1996–97 21.84 
			 1997–98 18.23 
			 1998–99 17.17 
			 1999–2000 14.59 
			 2000–01 6.7 
		
	
	Note:
	This data is based on a snapshot in time of a particular cohort(s) and therefore each year there will still be students who have yet to complete their course.

Mixed-sex Wards

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mixed sex Nightingale wards are still in operation.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested. National health service trusts report annually only on the total number of Nightingale wards which are in use.
	The term "Nightingale" ward is used to describe a particular layout, that is an open-plan area, which has not been subdivided into bays or cubicles, and which offers dormitory-style accommodation for 12 or more patients.
	Nightingale wards are not necessarily mixed-sex wards, but their old-fashioned layout offers patients little in the way of privacy. We have set clear standards requiring NHS trusts to provide single-sex accommodation for their patients, irrespective of the layout of the ward those patients occupy.
	The elimination of Nightingale wards for older people is one of our key priorities for the NHS. 98 per cent. of all Nightingale wards for older people have been eliminated or will be replaced on completion of hospital developments schemes currently under way.
	The elimination of Nightingale wards for other patient groups is being addressed through the hospital building programme currently under way. This will eliminate remaining Nightingale wards incrementally as it progresses.

Multiple Myeloma

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with multiple myeloma in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Dai Havard, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the number of people diagnosed with multiple myeloma in each of the last 10 years. I am replying in his absence.
	The most recent available figures are for the year 2001. The number of newly diagnosed cases of multiple myeloma registered in the 10 years 1992 to 2001 are given in the table below.
	
		Number of newly diagnosed cases of multiple myeloma(52) in England, 1992–2001
		
			  Number of cases 
		
		
			 1992 2,635 
			 1993 2,688 
			 1994 2,710 
			 1995 2,820 
			 1996 2,682 
			 1997 2,701 
			 1998 3,001 
			 1999 2,889 
			 2000 3,078 
			 2001 2,859 
		
	
	(52) From 1992 to 1994, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 203.0–203.1; from 1995 to 2001, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C90.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	In more detailed analyses of trends in incidence over time for a particular cancer, ONS use age-standardised rates. These control for differences in the size and age structure of the population and allow unbiased comparison of incidence rates over time. Age-standardised incidence rates (directly standardised to the European standard population) for multiple myeloma in England, for each year from 1992–2001, are given in Table 10 of the Annual Reference Volume, Cancer Statistics: Registrations, Series MB1 No. 32, which is available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme health/MBl 32/MBl 32.pdf

Multiple Myeloma

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the life expectancy is of a patient with multiple myeloma.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Dai Havard, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what is the life expectancy of a patient with multiple myeloma. I am replying in his absence.
	Data on life expectancy for patients with specific types of cancer are not available. Survival data are calculated as the proportion of patients still alive at a given period after diagnosis. The latest available one- and five-year survival rates for multiple myeloma in England and Wales are for adult patients (aged 15–99 years) diagnosed during 1996–99 and followed up to 31 December 2001. These figures are given in the attached table.
	
		One- and five-year age-standardised 1 relative survival rates (percentage) for adult patients (aged 15–99 years) diagnosed with multiple myeloma(54) during 1996–99 3, England and Wales
		
			   Percentage 
			  Number of patients(56) One-year survival Five-year survival 
		
		
			 Men 5,300 60 23 
			 Women 4,754 62 23 
		
	
	(53) As cancer survival varies with age at diagnosis, rates have been age standardised (directly age standardised to the 1986–90 cancer patients population) to control for changes in the age profile of cancer patients over time.
	(54) International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C90.
	(55) Complete five-year follow-up was available only for those diagnosed in 1996. For patients diagnosed in later years the most up-to-date estimates of shorter-term survival were used in this analysis of survival rates.
	(56) Eligible patients included in the survival analysis. The criteria for excluding patient records are given in Health Statistics Quarterly 2000; 6: 71–80, for example where the registration was of a second (different) primary cancer: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme health/HSQ6Book.pdf
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics.
	Available on the National Statistics website: http://www. statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=7899

NHS (Vacancy Rates)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the three-month vacancy rate is for (a) consultant psychiatrists, (b) psychiatric nurses and (c) all medical and dental staff in the NHS, for the latest period for which figures are available.

John Hutton: The latest three-month vacancy data available is at March 2004.
	The tables show the three-month vacancy rates for medical and dental staff, consultants within the psychiatry group and nurses within mental health.
	
		Three month vacancy rate and number for all medical and dental staff and psychiatry consultants in England, March 2004
		
			  3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy number Staff in post (whole-time equivalent) Staff in post (headcount) 
		
		
			 All doctors (excluding doctors in training) 4.3 1,666 37,081 44,957 
			 Psychiatry group 9.6 334 3,155 3,503 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents).
	2. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	3. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	4. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	5. * where the sum of the staff in post and number of vacancies is less then 10.
	6.—where the sum of the staff in post and number of vacancies is 0.
	Source:
	Department of Health Medical and Dental vacancy survey.
	
		Department of Health vacancies survey, March 2004—NHS three month vacancies for each specified nursing area of work three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post 
		
			  3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy number Staff in post (whole-time equivalent) Staff in post (headcount) 
		
		
			 Community learning disabilities 2.5 81 3,289 3,705 
			 Other Learning disabilities 2.1 94 4,535 5,245 
			 Community psychiatry 1.9 235 12,064 13,73 
			 Other psychiatry 4.7 1,282 27,319 31,555 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March each 2004.
	2. Three month vacancies are vacancies which Trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole-time equivalents).
	3. Three month Vacancy Rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	4. Three month vacancies are calculated using staff in post from the vacancy survey March 2004.
	5. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	6. '—' zero
	7.Staff in post data is from the Non-Medical Workforce Census.
	Sources:
	Department of Health Vacancies Survey.
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

NHS Finance

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure per weighted head of population was in (a) the Guildford and Waverley primary care trust area and (b) the Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority area in each year since 1992; and what the expenditure per weighted head of population was in England in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The 2003–04 to 2005–06 revenue allocations were the first time funding was made directly from the Department to primary care trusts. The Department announced the latest round of allocation for 2006–07 and 2007–08 on 9 February 2005.
	From 1996–97 to 2002–03 allocations were made to health authorities.
	Prior to this, allocations were made on a regional basis. These allocations do not contain information down to the Surrey and Sussex area.
	Information covering allocations per weighted head of population for the period from 1996–97 to 2007–08 for national health service organisations within the Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority is shown in the table.
	
		Allocations per weighted head of population to HAs and PCTs in Surrey and Sussex SHA area—1996 to 2008 £
		
			  Allocation per weighted head of population 
			 Health authorities 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 East Surrey 432 448 483 641 703 751 846 
			 East Sussex Brighton and Hove 404 446 469 642 705 758 829 
			 West Surrey 439 450 489 643 706 749 839 
			 West Sussex 406 427 463 624 684 733 821 
		
	
	
		
			  Allocation per weighted head of population 
			 Primary care trusts 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Adur, Arun and Worthing 924 1,011 1,106 
			 Bexhill and Rother 977 1,064 1,157 
			 Brighton and Hove City 918 1,005 1,098 
			 Crawley 900 986 1,078 
			 East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey 1,017 1,109 1,207 
			 East Surrey 977 1,065 1,159 
			 Eastbourne Downs 982 1,069 1,162 
			 Guildford and Waverley 990 1,079 1,174 
			 Hastings and St. Leonards 880 966 1,058 
			 Horsham and Chanctonbury 934 1,017 1,105 
			 Mid-Sussex 960 1,046 1,137 
			 North Surrey 966 1,054 1,147 
			 Sussex Downs and Weald 919 1,003 1,095 
			 Western Sussex 967 1,053 1,145 
			 Woking 989 1,078 1,173 
		
	
	
		Allocations per weighted head of population for England 1996 to 2008
		
			 England £ 
		
		
			 1996–97 426 
			 1997–98 443 
			 1998–99 464 
			 1999–2000 629 
			 2000–01 689 
			 2001–02 738 
			 2002–03 817 
			 2003–04 916 
			 2004–05 1,003 
			 2005–06 1,097 
		
	
	Information on allocations per weighted head of population for England from 1996–97 onwards is available in the Library.

Smoking

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what his latest estimate is of the percentage of people who have used the NHS Stop Smoking Services programme and who are no longer smoking after 12 months;
	(2)  how many people have used the NHS Stop Smoking Services in each of the last five years; and what the average cost to the NHS per person is of NHS recommended smoking cessation services.

Melanie Johnson: The Department funded an evaluation of the national heath service stop smoking services programme, which was led by a team at Glasgow university.
	The results will be published in due course.
	The information is shown in the table.
	
		Information about NHS stop smoking services in England, 1999–2000 to 2003–04
		
			  1999–2000 2 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Number of people setting a quit date(57) 14,600 132,500 227,300 234,900 361,200 
			 Number of successful four week quitters (self report) 5,700 64,500 119,800 124,100 204,900 
			 Cost of NHS stop smoking services (£ million) (59) 5.0 21.5 24.7 24.5 36.2 
			 Cost per person setting a quit date (£)(59) 344 162 109 104 100 
			 Cost per successful four week quitter (£)(59) 872 334 206 197 177 
			 Total net ingredient costs of prescriptions for NRT7 bupropion  (£ million)(60) (61)0.5 16 29 30 37 
		
	
	(57) Total number of people who have used the NHS stop smoking services is not collected centrally, however information is collected on the number of people setting a 'quit date'; some people may use the service but not go onto set a quit date.
	(58) In 1999–2000, NHS smoking cessation services were set up in the 26 health action zones (HAZ) in England and services were rolled out across the NHS to the rest of England in 2000–01.
	(59) The cost of the NHS stop smoking services and the cost per successful quitter in 1999–2000 and 2000–01 included the cost of giving clients 'free' NRT/NRT (or vouchers); from 2001–02 onwards the cost of the service and the cost per quitter excluded the cost of NRT or Zyban on prescription. Only a few nicotine replacement therapy products were available on prescription until 17 April 2001, when all NRT products became available on NHS prescription. Bupropion (Zyban) became available on NHS prescription from June 2000. Therefore, the costs from 2001–02 onwards are not directly comparable with the costs in previous years.
	(60) Net ingredient cost is the basic cost of a drug and does not take account of discounts, dispensing fees or prescription charge income. Note that some prescriptions for NRT/Bupropion are dispensed to people not using the NHS stop smoking services.
	(61) This figure only includes the costs of NRT, as bupropion (Zyban) was not available until June 2000.
	Sources:
	1. Statistics on Smoking Cessation in the Health Action Zones in England, April 1999 to March 2000—http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/02/24/22/04022422.pdf.
	2. Statistics on Smoking Cessation in England, April 2000 to March 2001—http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/07/64/58/04076458.pdf.
	3. Statistics on NHS stop smoking services in England, April 2001 to March 2002—http://www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0225.pdf.
	4. Statistics on NHS stop smoking services in England, April 2002 to March 2003—http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/07/62/33/04076233.pdf.
	5. Statistics on NHS stop smoking services in England, April 2003 to March 2004—http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/09/76/51/04097651.pdf.

Primary Care Trusts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the optimum number of patients in a primary care trust.

John Hutton: The new NHS White Paper of 1997 suggested that primary care groups (PCGs), the forerunners of primary care trusts (PCTs),
	"may typically serve about 100,000 patients."
	However, this was qualified by the acknowledgement that there must be flexibility to reflect local circumstances.
	These local circumstances include the advantages that coterminosity between PCTs and local authorities brings, as this facilitates joint-working by the national health service and social services. Geography is also important, as rural PCTs would need to cover a much larger geographical area to serve the same population as urban PCTs. Finally the configuration of hospitals and other health providers results in natural health communities which are not of equal size across the country.
	The impact of these local circumstances on size is such that the Department has never given a figure for the optimum number of patients in a PCT. However, PCTs have tended to be larger than PCGs, as a result of their greater functions and the desire to achieve economies of scale.

Pharmaceuticals Expenditure

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure per capita was on pharmaceuticals in each OECD country in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The data requested is available in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) publication "OECD Health Data 2004—a Comprehensive Analysis of 30 Countries''. A copy is available in the Library. Information can also be accessed through the OECD website at: www.oecd.org.

Residential Care

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were resident in residential care homes in each year from 1991 to 2004.

Stephen Ladyman: Information is not centrally available on the number of people who were resident in residential homes. The number of places in residential and nursing care homes in England is shown in the table as at 31 March for the years 1991 to 2001.
	I understand from the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that figures for later years were collected by the National Care Standards Commission, and now CSCI, but comparable details are not available.
	
		Number of care home places as at 31 March, 1991–2001, England Rounded numbers
		
			 At 31 March All places Residential places Nursing places(62) 
		
		
			 1991 457,800 324,200 133,500 
			 1992 469,100 321,800 147,200 
			 1993 486,500 318,100 1 68,400 
			 1994 498,000 321,600 176,400 
			 1995 506,800 321,500 185,300 
			 1996 517,500 326,900 190,600 
			 1997 534,400 338,100 196,300 
			 1998 553,500 347,900 205,600 
			 1999 546,200 344,000 202,200 
			 2000 539,200 345,900 193,300 
			 2001 528,000 341,200 186,800 
		
	
	(62) Nursing data includes places in general nursing homes, mental nursing homes and private hospitals and clinics.
	Source:
	Department of Health forms RAC5, KO36, RA and RH(N).

Salt

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with food manufacturers concerning salt levels in processed food; what recent progress has been made towards further reducing salt content therein; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 8 February 2005
	I have been leading discussions with industry, together with the Food Standards Agency (FSA), to identify and implement a range of proposals to increase opportunities for people to make healthy choices in what they eat. As outlined in the recent White Paper, "Choosing Health", these are aimed at increasing the availability of healthier food including reducing the levels of salt, added sugars and saturated fat in prepared and processed food and drink.
	At a stakeholder event on salt in November 2003, I called for industry to submit plans to reduce salt in processed food. To date, discussions have been held with and commitments received to reduce salt from over 60 organisations. Work is continuing with the industry to secure commitments to stepwise reductions, with the aim of reducing average intakes to six grams per person per day by 2010.

Treatment Costs

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of (a) a general practitioner consultation and (b) an attendance at an accident and emergency department was in the last period for which figures are available.

John Hutton: The average cost of a general practitioner surgery consultation was £18 in 2003–04. (Source: Unit costs of health and social care 2004 by the Personal Social Services Research Unit).
	The Department collects unit cost and activity data from all national health service providers in England each financial year. This information is available in the document, "Payment by Results, Core Tools, 2004", a copy of which is available in the Library.
	The average cost of a patient attending an accident and emergency department, and being either referred on from the department or discharged, in 2003–04 was £66.

Vioxx

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people in the UK were prescribed the painkiller Vioxx in each year since 1999;
	(2)  how many people in the UK suffered (a) heart attacks and (b) fatal heart attacks while prescribed the painkiller Vioxx in each year since 1999;
	(3)  how many people in the UK have been prescribed painkillers in the category of Cox-2 inhibitors in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The number of reports of heart attack (myocardial infarction) received in association with rofecoxib (Vioxx) through the yellow card scheme is shown in table 1. It is important to note that doctors are asked to report suspected adverse reactions regardless of any doubts about a causal association. Therefore, a report of a particular adverse reaction on the database does not necessarily mean that the drug caused it, and other factors such as the patient's underlying condition may have played a part. As with all spontaneous reporting schemes, under-reporting is an inherent feature and reporting may be stimulated by publicity. 12 of these reports were received following the withdrawal of rofecoxib on 30 September 2004.
	
		Table 1
		
			  Number of reports of myocardial infarction (Ml) Number of reports of Ml with a fatal outcome 
		
		
			 1999 6 1 
			 2000 9 4 
			 2001 7 1 
			 2002 5 0 
			 2003 7 0 
			 2004 16 2 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the number of prescription items of cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) selective inhibitors that have been dispensed in the community in England from 1999 to 2003.
	
		Table 2 Number of prescription items (thousand)
		
			  Rofecoxib (Vioxx) Celecoxib (Celebrex) Valdecoxib (Bextra) Etoricoxib (Arcoxia) 
		
		
			 1999 162.6 — — — 
			 2000 784.5 109.5 — — 
			 2001 1,269.8 109.5 — — 
			 2002 1,780.8 1,374.2 — 86.7 
			 2003 2,128.6 1,957.8 26.5 396.1 
		
	
	Source:
	Prescription cost analysis data from the Prescription Pricing Authority.

Volunteer First Aiders

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether attendance by an unqualified volunteer first-aid 'responder' at the scene of an emergency call to the ambulance service is assessed as fulfilling his Department's target response time.

Rosie Winterton: Guidance is set out in the statistical bulletin 'Ambulance services, England: 2003–04', which states that an emergency response may be by:
	an emergency ambulance: or
	a rapid response vehicle equipped with a defibrillator to provide treatment at the scene; or
	an approved first responder equipped with a defibrillator, despatched by and accountable to the ambulance service.
	Although the initial emergency response may be to send a rapid response vehicle or approved first responder, a fully equipped ambulance vehicle (car or ambulance) able to transport the patient in a clinically safe manner is still required to attend the incident within 14 to 19 minutes of the initial call, not within 14 to 19 minutes from arrival of initial responder.
	A copy of the statistical bulletin 'Ambulance services, England: 2003–04' is available in the Library. A copy of the 'Data set change control procedure', which details this information will be placed in the Library.

Yorkshire, Wolds and Coast PCT (Office Accommodation)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost was of the acquisition and refurbishment of the Four Winds office accommodation at Driffield for the Yorkshire, Wolds and Coast primary care trust.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 10 February 2005
	North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire strategic health authority reports that the rental cost of the Four Winds office accommodation in Driffield to the Yorkshire Wolds and Coast primary care trust is £72,500, plus value added tax, per annum. The accommodation was refurbished at the expense of the landlord.

Air Quality

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the link between trees in urban areas and air quality.

Alun Michael: Trees provide benefits to urban air pollution, but can also have adverse effects on air quality.
	Adverse effects of trees on air quality
	Trees can have adverse effects on air quality. They can release biogenic emissions known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which in combination with oxides of nitrogen (NOx), can contribute to the formation of other pollutants, especially ozone and particles. Ozone and particles are known to damage human health when in the lower atmosphere. In addition, trees release pollen, which can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people, and can be associated with hay fever and asthma.
	Beneficial effects of trees on air quality
	Trees deliver air quality benefits in two ways. Firstly, the cooling effect of their shade can directly reduce evaporative emissions from vehicles and other fuel storage, and by cooling homes and offices, power generation emissions are also lessened. Cooling also reduces the speed at which atmospheric chemical reactions occur.
	Secondly, trees can remove various pollutants from the atmosphere via deposition to their leaves and needles. Trees can remove pollutants typically associated with urban air pollution such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and ammonia reducing atmospheric concentrations and improving air quality. The pollutants generally collect in the leaves or bark which are then shed as part of the tree's life cycle. Trees also reduce concentrations of harmful particulate matter when leaf surfaces collect airborne particles, that are subsequently washed to the ground when it rains. The trees most suited to removal of particles are those with large leaf areas, or sticky or hairy leaves. Studies indicate that the hairy leaves of lime trees can collect four times as many PM10 particles than plane trees.
	In addition, trees can have a positive benefit in terms of global warming by acting as a sink for carbon dioxide, which is the most common greenhouse gas. Trees remove carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen during photosynthesis. The carbon is stored in the tree and the oxygen is released back into the atmosphere.
	A recent report entitled "Trees and Sustainable Urban Air Quality", produced under the Natural Environment Research Council's Urban Regeneration and the Environment (URGENT) programme by the University of Lancaster and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Edinburgh, investigated the role of trees in reducing urban air pollution. The report concluded that trees that emit the least reactive VOCs and have large leaf surface areas have the best effect on air quality. Scots pine, common alder, larch, Norway maple, field maple, ash and silver birch were found to remove the most pollutants without contributing to the formation of new pollutants, whereas oaks, poplars and willows were found to have detrimental effects on air quality downwind.
	In general, the report concludes that the effects on air quality of large scale planting of most tree species in cities would be positive and for example, by doubling the number of trees in the West Midlands, the concentration of small particles could be reduced by 25 per cent., avoiding 140 deaths that are currently caused by airborne particles each year in the West Midlands.

Departmental Policies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grants her Department makes available to villages in Chorley constituency.

Alun Michael: Villagers in Chorley constituency can benefit from:
	Funding under the England Rural Development Programme. Within this Programme, the Rural Enterprise Scheme in particular incorporates measures such as support for basic services for the rural community and renovation and development of villages, which might be of particular interest (further information is available at www.defra.gov.uk/erdp.default.htm).
	Various measures (administered with the Countryside Agency) to support parish councils, e.g. parish plans, the Quality Parish Investment Fund, the Clerk's Training Bursary Fund, where various Parish Councils within the Chorley constituency have received funding (e.g. Ulnes Walton for an IT project and Croston, Wrightington, Heapy and Appley Bridge for parish plans).
	Defra's programme with the voluntary and community sector which supports infrastructure bodies, social and community enterprise and a collaboration with the Department of Work and Pensions promoting benefits uptake among the elderly.
	Support under the Rural Stress Action Plan.
	Other grants supporting Defra's objectives from English Nature, the Countryside Agency, the Forestry Commission and the Regional Development Agency (in this case the North West Regional Development Agency) may also be relevant to villagers in the Chorley constituency.
	As announced in the Rural Strategy 2004, Defra is streamlining and devolving the funding support it provides.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Advisory Committee on the control and reduction of pollution caused by the discharge of hydrocarbons and other dangerous substances at sea met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	The Management Committee on Marine Pollution (MCMP) has replaced the Committee referred to by the hon. Member. The MCMP met once during each of the Italian, Irish and Dutch presidencies (in September 2003, March 2004 and September 2004) in Brussels. The United Kingdom was represented at each of these meetings by the Counter Pollution Response Branch of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
	I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above Presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

First Aid

Anthony Steen: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will issue first aid equipment including treatment for burns to all areas where constant boiling water cisterns have replaced kettles on the Commons estate.

Archy Kirkwood: The installation of instant boiling water dispensers to replace kettles gives a number of safety benefits that reduce the risk of scalds and burns, including elimination of steam hazard, no overturning of kettles, no cords or flexes, no hot surfaces, reduced risk of spillage, and the controlled dispensing of boiling water.
	The dispensers also offer energy savings, improved hygiene and improved electrical safety.
	First aiders and first aid equipment are readily available in all buildings. The Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Service advice is that the most effective treatment for a scald or burn is immediately to place the affected area under cool running water for as long as it takes for the pain to subside. All dispensers are located close to a supply of cool running water. Arrangements are being made to provide first aid instructions for scalds and burns.

Public Sector IT Projects

Andrew Selous: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what assessment he has made of the resources available to National Audit Office staff to enable them to facilitate greater parliamentary scrutiny of public sector IT projects.

Alan Williams: The National Audit Office already examines IT programmes and projects as part of the annual programme of value for money studies. For example last year its report, "Improving IT Procurement", examined the impact of the Office of Government Commerce's initiatives on departments and suppliers in the delivery of major IT-enabled projects. The cost implications of the National Audit Office's work are reflected in the resource bids submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the head of the National Audit Office, for consideration by the Public Accounts Commission. The Commission will be examining the NAO's bid for 2005–06 at its meeting on 22 February.

MRSA

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales Government concerning the release of MRSA figures for hospitals in Wales.

Don Touhig: I regularly meet the Assembly First Minister and Health Minister to discuss issues surrounding health care associated infections, in particular MRSA, which we take very seriously.
	The Assembly Health Minister, Dr. Brian Gibbons has announced a new set of proposals which will enable patients to access trust based statistics on each individual hospital in Wales.

A3

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which existing road schemes in addition to the A3 at Hindhead have been downgraded from national to regional significance; and what the peak traffic volumes of each were in the last period for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: The Government's consultation paper—"Devolving decision making: A consultation on regional funding allocations"—issued on 2 December 2004 sets out which routes are categorised as of the greatest strategic national and international importance and which are categorised as of primarily regional importance. The following table sets out the latest available peak daily traffic flow for each scheme in the targeted programme of improvements on routes categorised as of primarily regional importance.
	
		Trunk road schemes in the targeted programme of improvements on regional routes—Peak daily traffic flow—2004
		
			Government office region Two-way peak daily traffic flow (2004)Traffic count location 
		
		
			 Schemes planned to start construction by April 2008 
			 Al Peterborough–Blyth East Midlands 65,800 A1 Burghley Park, NB and SB 
			 A421 Bedford to Ml Junction 13 East 33,900 A421,StewartbyEB andWB 
			 All Attleborough Bypass improvement East 46,100 A1 1 Wymondham, NB and SB 
			 A19/A184 Testos Roundabout North East 61,400 A19, A1290-A184, South of Testos Roundabout; NB and SB 
			 A590 High and Low Newton Bypass North West 22,800 A592-A5074 Low Newton EB and WB 
			 A66 Temple Sowerby North West 24,200 A6-A685 Whinfell Forest, East of Penrith EB and WB 
			 A57/A628 Mottram-Hollingworth-Tintwistle North West 42,600 A6018-A628 Mottram Moor Tameside EB and WB 
			 A595 Parton-Lillyhall Improvement North West 22,100 B5295-A597, Commonend, Distington, Workington NB and SB 
			 A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 2 South East 134,000 A2 between A227 and B262 EB and WB 
			 A2/A282 Dartford Improvement South East 183,300 A282 Dartford Crossing NB and SB 
			 A27 Southerham-Beddingham Improvement South East 44,300 A27 Beddingham Level Crossing EB and WB 
			 A30/A382 Merrymeet Junction South West 61,100 A30 Tedbum St. Mary EB and WB 
			 A30 Bodmin Indian Queens South West 45,700 A30 Bodmin Bypass EB and WB 
			 M5 J17 to J18A Northbound Climbing Lane (HallenHiU) South West *66,000 M5 J18A to 17 NB * one-way flow traffic i.e northbound 
			 M5 J19 to J20 Northbound Climbing Lane (Tickenham Hill) South West *66,800 M5 J20 to J19 NB * one-way flow traffic i.e. northbound 
			 M5 J19 to J20 Southbound Climbing Lane (Naish Hill) South West *69,600 M5 J19 to J20 SB * one-way flow traffic i.e. southbound 
			 A38 Dobwalls Bypass South West 30,800 A38 Dobwalls (A390-B3284) EB and WB 
			 A419 Blunsdon South West 26,900 Blunsdon St (B401 9-A431 1) NB and SB 
			 A419 Commonhead Junction South West  Refer to A419 Blunsdon above. 
			 A45/A46 Tollbar End West Midlands 68,500 A45, Bagington, East of A46 EB and WB 
			 A66 Scotch Corner to Carkin Moor Dualling Yorkshire and The Humber 26,000 A1-A167 West of A1 EB and WB 
			 A66 Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank Dualling Yorkshire and The Humber 28,300 A67-A685 West of Bowes EB and WB 
			 
			 Schemes to be progressed for future construction
			 A46 Newark-Widmerpool Improvement East Midlands 35,500 A46 Newark Relief Road, east of sewage works EB and WB 
			 A453 widening (Ml J24 to A52 Nottingham) East Midlands 27,800 A453, Barton Lodge, NB and WB 
			 A505 Dunstable Northern Bypass (aka Ml-A5 Link Road) East N/A New link road 
			 A66 Long Newton GS J North East 36,500 A1 150-A135, west of Long Newton EB and WB 
			 A19/A1067 Seaton Burn North East 32,800 A1068-A1171 Arcott Hall EB and WB 
			 Al Morpeth to Felton Dualling North East 36,400 A197-A192, Morpeth NB and SB 
			 Al Adderstone to Belford Dualling North East 13,800 A1068-A1167, Belford Bypass NB and SB 
			 A3 Hindhead Improvement South East 37,000 A3, north of Hindhead NB and SB 
			 
			 Schemes to be progressed subject to regional priorities
			 A428 Caxton Common to Hardwick Improvement East 33,400 A428 North of Hardwick, EB and WB 
			 A47 Blofield to North Burlingham East 34,600 A47 Acle, EB and WB 
			 All Fiveways to Thetford Improvement East 32,900 A11 Thetford Bypass North NB and SB 
			 A69 Haydon Bridge Bypass North East 20,900 B6319-A6079, Hexham EB and WB 
			 A23 Handcross to Warninglid Widening South East 86,500 A23 Slaugham (B2110-B2115) NB and SB 
			 A21 Tonbridge Bypass to Pembury Dualling South East 36,500 A21 , Kippings Cross to Pembury, NB and SB 
			 A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst Bypass South East 30,000 A21 , Lamberhurst Quarter to Pembury, NB and SB 
			 A30 Garland Cross to Chiverton Cross South West 40,800 A30 Garland Cross (A3076-A3058) EB and WB 
			 A30 Temple to Higher Carblake Improvement South West 41,100 A30 north of Bodmin EB and WB 
			 A3 03 Stonehenge South West 47,500 A303 east of Countess Roundabout EB and WB 
			 A483 Pant-Llanymynech Bypass West Midlands 16,300 A483 Oswestry Bypass (B5069-A5) NB and SB 
			 A64 Rillington Bypass Yorkshire and The Humber 21,400 B1248-B1258, Rillington Village EB and WB

Departmental Policies

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effect of his Department's actions and policies on Blackpool, South constituency since (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Blackpool, South constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road causalities in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 1996–97 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	The funding provided directly to Blackpool borough council since 1997 is shown in the table below 1 . It has been Blackpool borough council to determine how that allocation has been spent, in line with their local transport plan and their priorities.
	
		
			£ million 
			 Blackpool—Nature of funding 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Capital maintenance 0.132 0.268 0.468 0.952 0.991 0.744 0.867 
			 Integrated block 0.251 0.594 0.700 2.000 2.384 2.632 1.600 
			 Targeted bus grants(64) 0 0 0 0.81 0.87 0 0 
			 Total 0.383 0.862 1.168 3.762 4.245 3.376 2.467 
		
	
	(63) Funding allocations for 1997–98 not included since they cover a period proceeding May 1997 and announcements concerning the 1997–98 allocations were made in 1996.
	(64) Includes Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus challenge funding.

Departmental Policies

Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Havant constituency, the effects on Havant of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Havant constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road causalities in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the number of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 1996–97 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	The funding provided directly to Hampshire county council since 1997 is shown in the following table 1 . It has been for Hampshire to determine how that allocation has spent, in line with their local transport plan and their priorities.
	
		Hampshire £ million
		
			 Nature of funding 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Capital maintenance 3.369 2.980 4.388 9.870 10.524 13.156 15.221 
			 Integrated block 2.923 3.985 5.432 13.5 13.204 14.393 15.783 
			 Major schemes 2.663 0 0 0 0 5.142 0 
			 Targeted bus grants(66) 0.903 1.06 1.88 1.60 2.04 2.10 1.37 
			 Total 9.858 8.025 11.7 24.97 25.768 34.791 32.374 
		
	
	(65) Funding allocations for 1997–98 not included since they cover a period proceeding May 1997 and announcements concerning the 1997–98 allocations were made in 1996.
	(66) Includes Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus challenge funding
	In addition, since 1997 the Havant constituency has benefited from investment in new rail rolling stock.

Departmental Policies

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Huddersfield constituency, the effects on Huddersfield of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Huddersfield constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road causalities in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16-years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 1996–07 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	The funding provided directly to the Metropolitan borough of Kirklees since 1997 is shown in the following table 1 . It has been for the Metropolitan borough of Kirklees to determine how that allocation has spent, in line with the local transport plan for West Yorkshire and the local priorities.
	1 Funding allocations for 1997–98 not included since they cover a period proceeding May 1997 and announcements concerning the 1997–98 allocations were made in 1996. Huddersfield also benefited from a share of the integrated block funding allocated to the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority.
	
		Metropolitan borough of Kirklees—Nature of funding  £ million
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Capital maintenance 1.374 3.752 6.227 6.163 6.405 6.646 8.398 
			 Integrated block 1.418 1.468  4.350 3.746 3.529 3.554 
			 Major schemes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Targeted bus grants(67) 0.92 0.76 1.47 2.38 2.05 2.77 0.98 
			 Total 3.712 5.98 7.697 12.89 12.20 12.94 12.93 
		
	
	(67) Includes rural bus subsidy grant and rural bus challenge funding.
	The constituency of Huddersfield is served by the TransPennine franchise which began operations in February 2004. It offers direct links from Huddersfield to destinations including Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle. It is also served by the new Northern franchise providing links to destinations throughout the north of England.
	Finally, the Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood. statistics.gov.uk./. In addition, the Department for Transport's website also contains data on transport trends over the past twenty years at http://www.dft. gov.uk.

Departmental Policies

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Maidenhead constituency, the effects on Maidenhead of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Maidenhead constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road causalities in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 1996–97 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	The funding provided directly to the Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead since 1997 is shown in the table 1 . It has been for the borough council to determine how that allocation has been spent, in line with its local transport plan and its priorities.
	1 Funding allocations for 1997–98 not included since they cover a period proceeding May 1997 and announcements concerning the 1997–98 allocations were made in 1996.
	
		
			£ million 
			 Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Capital maintenance 0.29 0.74 0.75 1.025 1.096 1.37 1.50 
			 Integrated block 0.10 0.65 0.83 1.700 1.690 1.70 1.84 
			 Major schemes Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 
			 Targeted bus grants(68) 0.051 0.051 0.051 0.490 0.074 0.075 0.095 
			 Total 0.441 1.441 1.631 3.215 2.860 3.145 3.435 
		
	
	(68) Includes rural bus subsidy grant and rural bus challenge funding.
	In addition, since 1997 the Maidenhead constituency, which lies within the Thames area franchise, has benefited from investment in new rail rolling stock.

Departmental Policies

Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Witney constituency, the effects on Witney of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Witney constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road causalities in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the number of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 1996–97 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	The funding provided directly to Oxfordshire county council since 1997 is shown in the following table 1 . It has been for Oxfordshire county council to determine how that allocation has spent, in line with their local transport plan and their priorities.
	
		Oxfordshire county council £ million
		
			 Nature of funding 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Capital maintenance 2.038 3.078 5.793 8.045 8.013 10.016 11.017 
			 Integrated block 1.962 3.686 4.764 10.500 10.600 9.911 12.940 
			 Major schemes 1.510 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Targeted bus grants(70) 0.93 1.93 0.93 1.18 1.35 1.79 1.42 
			 Total 6.44 8.694 11.487 19.725 19.963 21.717 25.377 
		
	
	(69) Funding allocations for 1997–98 not included since they cover a period proceeding May 1997 and announcements concerning the 1997–98 allocations were made in 1996.
	(70) Includes Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus challenge funding
	In addition, since 1997 the Witney constituency, which lies within the Thames area franchise has benefited from investment in new rail rolling stock.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee for granting Community financial aid in the field of trans-European transport networks, (ii) Committee for granting Community financial aid in the field of trans-European telecommunications networks met; when and where each meeting took place; what UK Government expert was present at each meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The trans-European transport network Financial Assistance Committee (FAC) referred to by the hon. Member met four times during the course of the three Presidencies (on 1 July 2003, 24 October 2003, 10 June 2004 and 21 and 22 October 2004). The meetings took place in Brussels and on each occasion the United Kingdom was represented by an official from the European Division of the Department for Transport. The FAC is responsible for the implementation of Council regulation 2236/95 and associated budgetary allocations. Responsibility for the trans-European Telecommunications network rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
	I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the (i) Advisory Committee on the management of the research programme for management and storage of radioactive waste and management of the Community plan of action in the field of radioactive waste and (ii) Advisory Committee on measures to be taken in the event of a crisis in the market in the carriage of goods by road and for laying down the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate national road haulage services within a member state met; when and where each meeting took place; what UK Government expert was present at each meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The matters with which this Committee deals are not the responsibility of the Department for Transport.
	I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Advisory Committee for the application of legislation on the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate national road passenger transport services within a member state met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee on the reciprocal recognition of national boat masters' certificates for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland water met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Free Public Transport

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of providing free public transport (a) in each local transport authority area and (b) in England for (i) disabled people, (ii) all people aged over 60 years and (iii) all people under 19 in full-time education (A) in rural areas and (B) elsewhere.

Charlotte Atkins: Local authorities in England currently spend around £500 million per year on concessionary fares schemes.
	It is estimated that an extension of current concessionary fares schemes to provide free local public transport for people over 60 and disabled people within their local authority area would cost an additional £200 million per year (approximately £18 million for disabled people and £182 million for the over 60s). This includes local bus journeys and, where the local authority chooses to fund wider concessions, journeys on trains, underground, light rail and ferries within the local areas. The additional cost would rise to around £250 million per year (£25 million for disabled people and £225 million for the over 60s) if all local journeys on the national rail system were included.
	An England-wide scheme allowing free travel for all older and disabled people on all bus journeys would cost around £260 million per year more than the current system (approximately £24 million for disabled people and £236 million for the over 60s). The additional cost would rise to £500 million per year if all national rail journeys were included (£50 million for disabled people and £450 million for the over 60s). Breakdown by cost for each local authority or for rural and other areas is not available.
	To provide free local bus travel for all under 19-year-olds would require additional funding of £520 million per year. Extending this to an England-wide scheme allowing free bus travel would cost around £580 million per year. Costs have not been estimated for free travel restricted to those in full-time education; however it is estimated that a free travel scheme applying to educational trips only would cost an additional £290 million per year. No estimates have been made to include journeys on all forms of public transport. Breakdown by area is not available.

Official Residences

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the official residences for which his Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the current occupants make towards the running costs of each; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure has been on those properties in each of the past five years; how much money was spent in each property on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills and (e) electricity and gas in 2003–04; how many (i) domestic and (ii) maintenance staff are employed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment at each was in 2003–04.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport has no residential properties used by Ministers or officials.

Taxis

Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2005, Official Report, column 1040W, on taxis, how his Department would define purpose built taxis if the Metropolitan Conditions of Fitness for London Taxicabs change to allow converted or adapted MPV vehicles to be licensed as taxis in London.

Charlotte Atkins: I recognise that the term "purpose built taxi" is often used to describe the type of cab which meets the requirements of the existing Metropolitan Conditions of Fitness (MCF). However the term is not defined in legislation. Nor is it one that the Department is required to define formally.
	The review by Transport for London of the MCF is continuing.

1992 Treasury Rules

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the payments under the 1992 Treasury Rules were invoked for (a) Gunwharf, Portsmouth, (b) Royal Clarence Yard, Gosport, (c) Peninsular Barracks, Winchester and (d) Ashford Barracks, Kent; and whether the Rules have ever been invoked more than once on the same site.

Ivor Caplin: Clawback payments to the Ministry of Defence were invoked in connection with Gunwharf—more than once—and Royal Clarence Yard. However, there is no clawback clause in the contract for either Peninsular or Ashford Barracks as in each case the purchasers paid full market value at the time of disposal.

Alcohol-related Deaths (Leicester)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many deaths within Leicester, South alcohol was found to be the primary cause in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Parmjit Singh Gill, dated 21 February 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking in how many deaths within Leicester South Parliamentary Constituency, alcohol was found to be the primary cause in each year since 1997. (216387)
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2003. The attached table shows the numbers of deaths among residents of Leicester South Parliamentary Constituency where the underlying cause of death indicated a condition directly related to alcohol use in the years 1997 to 2003.
	
		Alcohol-related deaths(71) for Leicester South parliamentary constituency(72) 1997 to 2003 3
		
			  Number of deaths 
		
		
			 1997 10 
			 1998 9 
			 1999 10 
			 2000 17 
			 2001 10 
			 2002 12 
			 2003 16 
		
	
	(71) For the years 1997–2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). The codes used by ONS to define alcohol-related deaths are listed:
	291—Alcoholic psychoses
	303—Alcohol dependence syndrome
	305.0—Non-dependent abuse of alcohol
	425.5—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	571—Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
	E860—Accidental poisoning by alcohol
	For the years 2001–2003 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes were used:
	F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	142.6—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	K70—Alcoholic liver disease
	K73—Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
	K74—Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
	X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
	The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in:
	Baker A and Rooney C (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. "Health Statistics Quarterly" 17, pp 5–14.
	(72) Usual residents of this area.
	(73) Deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Capital Allowances

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the system of capital allowances for plant and machinery.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government's proposals for modernisation of the taxation of capital assets—including capital allowances—are set out in a Technical Note on Corporation Tax reform, published by the Inland Revenue in December 2004. This is available at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/pbr2004/sup ct-reform-tech-note.pdf
	In light of this, any changes to the system of capital allowances for plant and machinery will be considered by the Chancellor as part of the normal Budget cycle.

Child Trust Fund Payments

Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households in each ward of Wallasey constituency contain children who qualify for child trust fund payments.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Battersea (Martin Linton) on 30 November 2004, Official Report, columns 87–88W. All children born and living in the UK since 1 September 2002 whose families receive child benefit will be eligible for the child trust fund.

Labour Statistics

Andy Burnham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many job vacancies there were in Leigh in (a) 1997 and (b) 2004; and if he will make a statement on the levels of long-term (i) adult and (ii) youth employment in Leigh over the last 15 years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Andy Burnham, dated 21 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about job vacancies and unemployment. I am replying in his absence. (214587)
	Statistics on vacancies in total are only available from the ONS Vacancy Survey, which provides information at national level only. For local areas, figures for vacancies held by the Jobcentre Plus administrative system are available for periods up to April 2001. However, due to changes to that system, more recent figures are available only for newly notified vacancies, and not on a comparable basis.
	There were 223 unfilled vacancies registered at Jobcentres in Leigh on average during 1997. The latest comparable figure, the average for the 12 months to April 2001, was 270. These figures represent only those vacancies notified to Jobcentres, not all vacancies in an area.
	Table 1 gives estimates of the numbers of long-term unemployed people, both youth and adult, who were resident in Leigh Parliamentary Constituency, for each twelve month period ending February from 1999 to 2004, the most recent available period. Information on length of time unemployed is not available for earlier periods.
	These estimates from Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas. Table 2 gives the annual average number of young people aged 18 to 24 years old and adults (aged 25 and over) resident in the Leigh constituency claiming JSA benefits for over 12 months or more in each year from 1989 to 2004.
	
		Table 1: People resident in Leigh parliamentary constituency unemployed for over 12 months Thousand
		
			 12 months ending February Youth (aged 16 to 24) Adult (aged 25 and over) 
		
		
			 1999 (74)— 1,000 
			 2000 (74)— 1,000 
			 2001 (74)— 1,000 
			 2002 (74)— (74)— 
			 2003 (74)— (74)— 
			 2004 (74)— (74)— 
		
	
	(74) Estimates not shown as they are potentially disclosive.
	Note:
	These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the Leigh constituency claiming for 12 months or more
		
			  Annual averages Youth claimants (aged 18 to 24) 1 Adult claimants (aged 25 and over) 1 
		
		
			 1989 251 735 
			 1990 157 555 
			 1991 198 588 
			 1992 331 871 
			 1993 361 1,045 
			 1994 274 944 
			 1995 177 785 
			 1996 140 690 
			 1997 85 495 
			 1998 40 250 
			 1999 10 295 
			 2000 10 260 
			 2001 5 210 
			 2002 5 180 
			 2003 5 170 
			 2004 10 145 
		
	
	(75) Computerised claims only.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus administrative system

Football Testimonials

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to end tax free testimonials for professional footballers; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The proceeds from footballers' testimonial events may already be chargeable to tax under present law. Whether they are or not depends upon the circumstances of each individual case. We have no current plans to change this. However, we keep all aspects of the tax system, including this one, under review.

Insulation Material

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for the environment of the differential rates of VAT applied to insulation material when bought privately and when installed.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government are committed to improving household efficiency, as part of their programme to meet the Energy White Paper targets and see the use of economic instruments as an effective way to implement environmental policy.
	The Government apply a reduced rate of VAT for the contractual installation of energy-saving materials in certain circumstances and have a long-standing commitment to pursue an amendment to the EU sixth VAT directive to permit a reduced rate of VAT for the purchase of energy-saving materials for DIY installation.
	Evaluation of policy initiatives to protect the environment, including tax measures, is being carried out as part of the climate change programme review. This review is due to report its findings in the summer.

Landfill Tax

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was generated by the landfill tax in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2002–03.

Dawn Primarolo: Landfill tax receipts are published by Customs and Excise in the Landfill Tax Bulletin a copy of which can be found on the UK Trade Information website atwww.uktradeinfo.com.
	Landfill tax receipts for the financial year (net of landfill tax credit scheme payments) are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2002–03 541 
			 2003–04 607

National Insurance Contributions

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many people who pay national insurance contributions would not do so if the threshold for payment were to be raised to £10,000 per annum, in the first year following the raising of the threshold.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of people who are currently projected to pay national insurance contributions in the UK, who would not do so if the primary threshold and lower profits limit were raised to £10,000 per annum in the year 2005–06 is estimated to be 4 million. The estimate is based upon the "Report by the Government Actuary on the drafts of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2005 and the Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating and National Insurance Funds Payments) Order 2005".

Royal Marriage

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the costs to public funds which will arise from the proposed marriage between His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Mrs Camilla Parker-Bowles; whether rules exist in respect of public expenditure on such matters; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Since the wedding will be a private event, I have made no such estimate.
	Government Departments manage their own budgets in line with their statutory responsibilities, objectives and priorities.

Stamp Duty

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the reduction in stamp duty yield from residential property which would result from raising the threshold at which 1 per cent. stamp duty starts from £60,000 to £150,000.

Dawn Primarolo: The estimated revenue cost, in 2005–06, of restructuring stamp duty on residential property sales by raising the threshold from £60,000 to £50,000 is £480 million. This does not include any allowance for behavioural changes.

Stamp Duty

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the cost of reliefs from stamp duty for transfers in designated disadvantaged wards was accounted for by (a) residential transfers and (b) non-residential transfers in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: In 2003–04 the proportion of disadvantaged areas relief claimed in respect of residential transfers was estimated at 15 per cent. of the total relief claimed, and the amount claimed in respect of non residential transferred was estimated at 85 per cent.

Tax Credits (Morecambe and Lunesdale)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many families in Morecambe and Lunesdale have received (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit;
	(2)  what the average monetary value is of (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit awards.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the number of in-work families receiving tax credits (broken down by families with and without children) in each constituency appear in "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics, Geographical analyses." This can be found on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases, and are subject to sampling uncertainty.
	Information on average awards is not available.

Tax Overpayments

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the Tax Credit Office does not reimburse members of the general public for overpayments until the end of the financial year.

Stephen Timms: The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26 (COP26) 'What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?' sets out the Department's approach to handling tax credits overpayments.
	It is only after the end of the year, once all the information about income and circumstances is available that the Revenue will compare tax credit entitlement with what they have paid. They will then finalise the award and send claimants a finalisation notice. If there is an underpayment a lump sum payment is then made. Alternatively, if the finalisation notice shows an overpayment for the year, it will wherever possible be recovered from a continuing award.
	When a person's circumstances change during the year the Revenue will adjust the payments for the remainder of the year with the aim of paying the right amount of tax credits for the year as a whole.

Tax Overpayments

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances individuals who have made overpayments to the Tax Credit Office due to errors by the Office are eligible to claim financial hardship payments.

Stephen Timms: The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26 ("What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?") sets out their approach to handling overpayments of tax credits.
	Additional tax credits payments may be made by the Inland Revenue to prevent hardship where payments are reduced following the adjustment of an award.

VAT

John Grogan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many VAT registered businesses there were on average in the area of (a) Selby district council and (b) City of York council in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2004.

Dawn Primarolo: Customs and Excise do not collect data on the number of VAT registered businesses by geographical area. Information on VAT registered businesses by area is available via the Small Business Service website www.sbs.gov.uk. The following table shows the number of enterprises registered for VAT at the start of the year for the unitary authorities and local authority districts within the Yorkshire and Humber Government office region.
	
		Number of VAT registered enterprises at the start of 1997 and 2004
		
			 Area type Area 1997 2004 
		
		
			 Region Yorkshire and the Humber GOR 121,975 129,645 
			 
			 UA East Riding of Yorkshire 9,705 10,115 
			 UA Kingston upon Hull city of 4,455 4,505 
			 UA North East Lincolnshire 3,300 3,435 
			 UA North Lincolnshire 3,985 4,235 
			 UA York 4,055 4,670 
			 
			 County North Yorkshire county 23,115 24,775 
			 LA Craven 2,670 2,845 
			 LA Hambleton 3,995 4,155 
			 LA Harrogate 6,025 6,715 
			 LA Richmondshire 2,025 2,095 
			 LA Ryedale 2,860 3,010 
			 LA Scarborough 3,200 3,270 
			 LA Selby 2,340 2,690 
			 
			 County South Yorkshire metropolitan county 24,170 25,910 
			 LA Barnsley 3,900 4,365 
			 LA Doncaster 4,940 5,580 
			 LA Rotherham 4,270 4,690 
			 LA Sheffield 11,055 11,275 
			 
			 County West Yorkshire metropolitan county 49,190 52,005 
			 LA Bradford 10,270 10,780 
			 LA Calderdale 5,495 5,890 
			 LA Kirklees 9,475 10,400 
			 LA Leeds 18,105 18,230 
			 LA Wakefield 5,845 6,705 
		
	
	Source:
	Small Business Service www.sbs.gov.uk

VAT

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy, in cases where the Inland Revenue is persuaded that a VAT registration is unnecessary and mistaken, that (a) penalties for non-payment and (b) backdated tax claims should be withdrawn; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Where a person makes taxable supplies and is registered for VAT voluntarily, the registration cannot be cancelled retrospectively. The person is liable to account for VAT on taxable supplies made and may be liable to penalties during the period of the registration.
	Where Customs and Excise registers a person for VAT and they subsequently discover that the person was neither required nor entitled to be registered, they will remove the person from the register and withdraw any assessments made for arrears of tax or penalty. Customs are, however, able to recover from that person any amount he has charged to customers as VAT and he may be liable to a penalty on this amount.

Working Tax Credit

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of families who will benefit from the extension of the subsidy in the child care element of the working tax credit in 2006 announced in the pre-Budget report in December 2004; and what he estimates the average gain per family per year will be.

Stephen Timms: Assuming that the number of beneficiaries and average child care costs remain at December 2004 levels, around 330 thousand families will benefit from the increase in the percentage of child care costs covered in the child care element of tax credits. The average (mean) gain is assumed to be £400 per year.

Working Tax Credit

Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in each ward of Wallasey constituency claim working tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the number of in-work families receiving tax credits (broken down by families with and without children) in each constituency appears in "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses. December 2004" This can be found on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases, and are subject to sampling uncertainty.
	Estimates for smaller areas are not available.

Alcohol Licensing (Bridgwater)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many alcohol licences are currently issued to premises in the Bridgwater constituency.

Richard Caborn: We do not have a record of the number of alcohol licences currently issued in the Bridgwater constituency.
	However, I can provide statistics for the petty sessional areas of Sedgemoor and Taunton Deane and West Somerset which include Bridgwater. As of June 2004 there were 799 on-licensed premises and 263 off licence premises a total of 1,062 licences.
	DCMS deposited the source publication for these figures "Statistical Bulletin Liquor Licensing (England and Wales, July 2003-June 2004)" on 27 October 2004 in the House Libraries. This document is available on the DCMS website at: http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/research/statistics outputs/liquor licensing statistics.htm

Children's Sport

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many children participated in (a) boxing, (b) rugby, (c) football, (d) netball and (e) hockey in the last period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The results of the largest and most comprehensive survey of school sport in England—published on 29 April 2004—showed that, within School Sport Partnership schools; 97 per cent. offer football, 84 per cent. offer netball, 77 per cent. offer hockey, 67 per cent. offer rugby union, 12 per cent. rugby league and around 1 per cent. offer boxing.

Children's Sport

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many school children there are in the Bridgwater constituency; and what percentage participate in two hours of quality physical sport or activity each week.

Richard Caborn: There were 12,611 pupils aged 5–19 attending schools in the Bridgwater constituency as of January 2004 (the latest figures available).
	The constituency level information sought is not held centrally in the format requested. However, the 2003–04 PE, School Sport and Club Links survey showed that overall, 62 per cent. of pupils in schools within a School Sports Partnership (at the time of the survey, 30 per cent. of all schools in England) spend at least two hours in a typical week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum.
	Within the constituency of Bridgwater there is one School Sport Partnership, comprising 31 schools. All schools, both within Bridgwater as well as nationally, will be part of a School Sport Partnership by September 2006.

Departmental Policies

Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the Blyth Valley constituency, the effects of the Department's policies on the Blyth Valley since 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Blyth Valley since 2 May 1997.
	In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. A school sport partnership involving four Primary Link teachers is based at St. Benet Biscop in Blyth Valley. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Blyth Valley have benefited from six Sport England Lottery grants totalling £493,758.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England, North East grants increased from £5.7 million to £12.2 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England investment in regularly funded organisations in the North East will be £11.3 million. Blyth Valley has benefited from grants to arts projects, organisations and individuals, including the Northern Cultural Skills Partnership and the Northern Disability Arts Forum.
	From September 2005, schools in Blyth Valley will be included in the third phase of the Creative Partnerships programme which began in 2002. Creative Partnerships aims to give school children and their teachers the opportunity to explore their creativity by working on sustained projects with creative organisations and individuals, including artists, theatre companies, dance studios, museums, orchestras, film-makers and historic buildings. Funding of £65 million was allocated for the period 2002–05 to develop Creative Partnerships, and the programme will receive at least a further £86 million in 2005–08.
	Young people in Blyth Valley have also benefited from the setting up of the Northumberland Youth Music Action Zone, known as CoMusica, in 2000. CoMusica has received a total of £866,500 and 1,450 young people from across Northumberland have taken part in its local music projects and events.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Blyth Valley will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	Our support for, and promotion of, the film and broadcasting industries have contributed to the general success of film-making and television activity in Northumberland. The UK Film Council has, through Northern Film and Media, awarded £45,000 to a number of projects by writers based in the Blyth Valley .
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Blyth Valley with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 4,135.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday/to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11 pm on new year's eve to 11 am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Blyth Valley, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Blyth Valley has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including One North East. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Blyth Valley.English Heritage has awarded grants worth £147,940 to buildings or organisations in Blyth Valley since 2 May 1997, including Seaton Delavel Hall.
	In common with all those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Blyth Valley are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million Lottery grant and which has put all the United Kingdom's public libraries on-line. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.Information from the National Lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Blyth Valley has benefited from over 330 awards totalling over £6.3 million. Of these, 22 awards worth over £1.7 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Departmental Policies

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Huddersfield constituency, the effects on Huddersfield of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Huddersfield since 2 May 1997.
	In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. There is one school sport partnership involving two school sport co-ordinators and nine primary link teachers in Huddersfield. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Huddersfield have benefited from 19 Sport England lottery grants totalling £12,395,679, including two awards worth £249,603 in total from the £108 million investment in innovative sports facilities through the Active England programme.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England Yorkshire and the Humber grants increased from £6.7 million to £21.3 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England, Yorkshire and the Humber investment in regularly funded organisations will be £23.4 million. Huddersfield has benefited from grants to arts projects, organisations and individuals, including the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and the Lawrence Batley Theatre.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Huddersfield will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	Our support for, and promotion of, the film and broadcasting industries have contributed to the general success of film-making and television activity in the Huddersfield area. A number of projects have received funding through Screen Yorkshire.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Huddersfield with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 5,095.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11 pm on new year's eve to 11 am on New year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Huddersfield, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Huddersfield has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including Yorkshire Forward. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Yorkshire.
	English Heritage has awarded grants worth £245,000 to buildings and organisations in Huddersfield since 2 May 1997.
	In common with all those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Huddersfield constituency are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million lottery grant. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.
	The Department has been an energetic advocate of the community value of public libraries. Kirklees council has recognised this value and has undertaken initiatives such as the 'Bibliotherapy Project' where 'Bibliotherapists' work in the community alongside health professionals in local areas of social need to 'prescribe' books and promote the benefits of reading for relaxation, reducing stress ,anxiety and depression. DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund 2000–01 awarded £45,000 to this project which benefited people in Huddersfield.
	Information from the national lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Huddersfield has benefited from over 342 awards totalling over £26.5 million. Of these, 55 awards worth over £8.9 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Departmental Policies

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Loughborough constituency, the effects of her Department's policies on Loughborough since 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Loughborough since 2 May 1997.
	In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. There is one school sport partnership in Loughborough based at Burleigh community college involving four School Sport Co-ordinators, 18 Primary Link teachers and one partnership Development Vanager. Burleigh community college has also been awarded a Sport England grant of £272,027 to support the School Sport Co-ordinator programme. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Loughborough have benefited from 10 Sport England community capital lottery grants totalling £11,662,082, two awards worth £685,074 in total from the £108 million investment in innovative sports facilities through the Active England programme. The English Institute of Sport based in Loughborough has received a further seven lottery grants from Sport England totalling £29,563,079.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–5. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England, East Midlands grants increased from £4.3 million to £8.9 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England investment in regularly funded organisations in the East Midlands will be £9.3 million. Loughborough has benefited from grants to arts projects, organisations and individuals, including Charnwood Arts and the Eastern orchestral Board.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Loughborough will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Loughborough with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–4 was 4585.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11pm on new year's eve to 11am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Loughborough, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Loughborough has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including the East Midlands Development Agency. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Loughborough.
	English Heritage has awarded grants worth £79,700 to Loughborough since 2 May 1997.
	In common with all of those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Loughborough are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million lottery grant and which has put all the United Kingdom's public libraries on-line. In addition, the Department is funding the museums, libraries and archives council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.
	Information from the national lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Loughborough has benefited from over 230 awards totalling over £49.5 million. Of these, 21 awards worth over £2.8 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Digital Broadcasting

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which constituencies in England are not able to receive digital reception.

Estelle Morris: The vast majority of households in England can, with the appropriate equipment, receive digital TV services via either digital satellite, digital terrestrial or cable.
	However at least a quarter of households cannot currently receive the digital terrestrial television (DTT) service; this figure cannot be increased before switchover. We do not have a breakdown of coverage by constituency but we are arranging for DTT coverage maps to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Freeview also provide a comprehensive postcode database (www.freeview.co.uk <http://www.freeview. co.uk>) that gives availability of digital terrestrial television throughout the UK.

Digital Broadcasting

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate the percentage of the population in the Bridgwater constituency which does not have access to digital television.

Estelle Morris: The vast majority of households in Bridgewater, can with the appropriate equipment, receive digital television services via digital satellite. However, according to Ofcom, digital terrestrial coverage in and around the Bridgewater area is patchy; this cannot be improved before switchover, due to topography and technical constraints on the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) transmissions.
	We do not have a breakdown of coverage by constituency but we are arranging for DTT coverage maps to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Freeview also provide a comprehensive postcode database (www.freeview.co.uk <http://www.freeview. co.uk>) that gives availability of digital terrestrial television throughout the UK.

Digital Broadcasting

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  when digital reception will be available in (a) the constituency of Solihull and (b) postcode area B92;
	(2)  for what reasons digital reception is not available in Solihull.

Estelle Morris: The vast majority of households in Solihull, can with the appropriate equipment, receive digital television services via either digital satellite, digital terrestrial or cable. However, according to Ofcom, digital terrestrial coverage in and around the Solihull area is patchy; this cannot be improved before switchover, due to the technical constraints on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) transmissions from the Sutton Coldfield transmitter.
	No firm dates for Switchover have been set, but Ofcom have suggested an indicative date of 2010 for the Central ITV region.
	The Government will confirm the timetable once all the remaining issues relating to digital switchover are resolved and we are satisfied that the interests of consumers, especially the most vulnerable, are well protected.

Digital Broadcasting

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will ensure that people in the constituency of Solihull will be able to receive analogue reception up to the point of their being able to benefit from digital reception.

Estelle Morris: This process will begin by switching off one analogue channel, which will immediately be made available on a digital multiplex, also carrying other digital services. Then, at a later date the other analogue services will be switched off and immediately replaced by the remaining digital services.

Film Industry

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support the Government are offering the UK film industry.

Estelle Morris: The Government are committed to creating a sustainable, stable and successful film industry. The UK Film Council, our strategic body for film, allocates Lottery money for film making, and works with Government support to promote the widest possible enjoyment and understanding of cinema throughout the UK. The Government itself continues to make available generous and appropriately-targeted tax relief for filmmakers, and is working to create the best possible framework for increased and improved co-productions between UK filmmakers and their counterparts abroad.

National Lottery

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received proposing that lottery tickets should indicate that grants may be restricted to exclude applications from areas deemed to be affluent.

Estelle Morris: None. Lottery distributors do not exclude applications from geographic areas on the grounds of affluence. Lottery tickets do indicate that further information about the National Lottery is available at www.national-lottery.co.uk <http://www. national-lottery.co.uk> and this includes details of how to apply for a Lottery grant and the many awards which have been made since the Lottery was established in 1994. Lottery distributors, the Lottery operator and the National lottery Promotions Unit are also working together to increase public awareness of Lottery funding.

National Lottery

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reason lottery funding is denied to specific geographic areas in the UK on the grounds of perceived affluence.

Estelle Morris: Lottery funding is not denied to specific geographic areas in the UK on the grounds of perceived affluence. Policy directions issued to distributors by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport require them to take into account "the need to ensure that all parts of England have access to lottery funding". There is extremely strong competition for lottery funding and some distributors' awards give priority to areas or people who are at risk of social exclusion.

Public Buildings

Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the ministerial group on better public buildings last met; what assessment she has made of the work of the group; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Since its launch in October 2000 the Better Public Buildings initiative has achieved much by better embedding design quality at the heart of Government construction programmes. Most Government Departments have produced action plans which outline their commitment to architectural design standards. The Ministerial Design Champions Group last met on 20 January 2003 at HM Treasury. The Ministerial Group is supported by a group of senior officials from all relevant Departments and the officials1 group last met in March 2004.
	Officials and Ministers are considering new proposals for the future structure of the Better Public Buildings initiative.

Public House Licences

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public house licences were withdrawn in 2004 due to the sale of alcohol to (a) individuals below the minimum legal age and (b) inebriated individuals.

Richard Caborn: We do not have information about the reasons for licence revocations and are therefore unable to provide the breakdown of figures in the categories that you have requested, but we can provide the overall figure for public house justices' on-licence revocations in the 12 months ending 30 June 2004.
	The overall number of public house justices' on-licence revocations in England and Wales was 186 in 2004. These statistics are collected on a triennial basis and are for the year to 30 June.
	DCMS deposited the source publication for these figures "Statistical Bulletin Liquor Licensing (England and Wales, July 2003-June 2004)" on 27 October 2004 in the House Libraries. This document is available on the DCMS website at: http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/research/statistics outputs/liquor licensing statistics.htm.

Sports Clubs (Bridgwater)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many amateur sports clubs there are in the Bridgwater constituency.

Richard Caborn: The DCMS does not hold the information requested. The hon. Member may wish to direct his query to the local authority for Bridgewater.

Sports Facilities

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what Government funding is available towards the building of (a) full all-weather pitches, (b) running tracks and (c) sports stadiums for football and rugby.

Richard Caborn: By 2006, Government will have committed over £1 billion into developing new or refurbished public sports facilities. This funding is being channelled through the New Opportunities for PE and Sport, the Community Club Development Programme, Space for Sport and the Arts, Active England and the Football Foundation.
	Building Schools for the Future will also invest £5.1 billion in new school facilities, including open and accessible multi-sport and physical activity facilities.
	The National Governing Bodies for Rugby and Football and the Football Foundation provide advice on the funding available to build new football or rugby stadia.

Television Licences

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households in Leicester, South are receiving a free television licence for over-75s.

Estelle Morris: TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Leicester, South constituency in 2003–04 was 4,660, according to Department for Work and Pensions records.

Television Licences

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people in each ward of Wallasey constituency (a) are entitled to free television licences and (b) have claimed free television licences.

Estelle Morris: TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Wallasey constituency in 2003–04 was 5,445, according to Department for Work and Pensions records. Winter fuel payment data at ward level relate to census wards rather than electoral wards and consequently do not correspond precisely to constituency boundaries.

Anti-bribery/Corruption Procedures

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations were made by BAES, Rolls-Royce and Airbus to the Export Credit Guarantees Department about its anti-corruption procedures; and if she will place written submissions in the Library.

Douglas Alexander: Documents relating to discussions between ECGD, the CBI and industry on the Department's new anti-bribery and corruption procedures introduced on 1 May 2004 and the revised procedures that came into force have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the ECGD website (www.ecgd.gov.uk/ )
	ECGD will shortly be launching a public consultation on these procedures.

Business Rates

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on its business rates proposals in relation to green generation of electricity.

Mike O'Brien: I have discussed this matter with my hon. Friend the Minister for Local and Regional Government (ODPM) (Mr. Raynsford). My predecessor, the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms) also wrote to the Minister of Local and Regional Government on the issue. There have also been a number of discussions at official level between our respective Departments and the renewables industry.

ECGD

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2004, Official Report, column 1242W, on the Export Credits Guarantee Department, if she will place in the Library the Government's written responses to the written and verbal representations made by (a) Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) customers and (b) organisations representing ECGD's customers in respect of ECGD's anti-bribery and corruption procedures.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 24 January 2005
	Documents relating to discussions between ECGD, the CBI and industry on the Department's new anti-bribery and corruption procedures introduced on 1 May 2004 and the revised procedures that came into force have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the ECGD website (www.ecgd.gov.uk/ )
	ECGD will shortly be launching a public consultation on these procedures.

ECGD

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library representations made by (a) BAES, (b) Rolls-Royce and (c) Airbus at meetings held with her Department since January to discuss the anti-corruption procedures brought into force by the Export Credits Guarantee Department on 1 May.

Douglas Alexander: Documents relating to discussions between ECGD, the CBI and industry on the Department's new anti-bribery and corruption procedures introduced on 1 May 2004 and the revised procedures that came into force have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the ECGD website (www.ecgd.gov.uk/ )
	ECGD will shortly be launching a public consultation on these procedures.

ECGD

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library minutes from the meetings since January in which (a) her officials and (b) Export Credits Guarantee Department staff have met organisations to discuss anti-corruption procedures brought in by the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Douglas Alexander: Documents relating to discussions between ECGD, the CBI and industry on the Department's new anti-bribery and corruption procedures introduced on 1 May 2004 and the revised procedures that came into force have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the ECGD website (www.ecgd.gov.uk/ )
	ECGD will shortly be launching a public consultation on these procedures.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which companies have made representations to her Department regarding the anti-corruption procedures brought into force by the Export Credits Guarantee Department on 1 May; and if she will place these representations in the Library.

Douglas Alexander: Documents relating to discussions between ECGD, the CBI and industry on the Department's new anti-bribery and corruption procedures introduced on 1 May 2004 and the revised procedures that came into force have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the ECGD web site (www.ecgd.gov.uk/ )
	ECGD will shortly be launching a public consultation on these procedures.

Nuclear Industry

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her policy on state aid case C 39/2004 (ex N613/2003), 2004/C 315/05 of OJ C315 volume 47 of 21 December 2004, on public financing of nuclear decontamination; what representations she has received from the nuclear industry; what representations she has made on the issue to the European Commission; and what impact the case will have on the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Mike O'Brien: We notified the European Commission of our intention to support the creation of the NDA in December 2003. The Commission announced a formal investigation into state aid to the NDA on 1 December 2004. This announcement confirmed that the transitional arrangements under which the NDA will start work on 1 April 2005 to not involve state aid. We are working closely with the Commission and formally responded to them on 31 January 2005. We will make further responses to the Commission as required. We are in ongoing consultation with BNFL.

Oil and Gas Exploration

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences have been issued for oil and gas exploration in UK territorial waters off the coast of Northern Ireland.

Mike O'Brien: Since offshore licensing began in the 1960s, three production licences (which cover exploration activity) have been issued over acreage in quadrants 111, 124, 125 or 126, which lie just of Northern Ireland.
	
		
			 Licence number Blocks covered Issued Surrendered Operator 
		
		
			 P869 111/03, 111/04, 111/08 1993 1999 BG International Limited 
			 P870 111/10, 111/15 1993 1997 BG International Limited 
			 P871 111/25, 111/29, 111/30 1993 1997 Elf Exploration UK plc

Wind Turbines

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department (a) has commissioned and (b) plans to commission on (i) impulsive noise and noise modulation effects arising from groups of wind turbines and (ii) general noise from wind turbines.

Mike O'Brien: There are four main studies on the impact of noise from wind turbines that have been commissioned and examined by my Department. These are:
	The Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms, published 1996,
	Noise emission from wind turbines, published 1999,
	Aerodynamic noise reduction for variable speed turbines, published 2000, and
	Assessment of the Effects of Noise and Vibration from Offshore Wind Farms on Marine Wildlife, published 2001.
	Two others studies that have been commissioned and are both due to report in the Spring 2005 are:
	Study into the Effects of Wind Farms on the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array (Joint study with MOD and BWEA), and
	The measurement and assessment of low frequency noise from three UK wind farms.

Falklands Anniversary

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict; and whether he has set up a group to organise a veterans' visit.

Ivor Caplin: Ministry of Defence officials have been considering how best to mark the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict in 2007 for some time in consultation with the South Atlantic Medal Association (82). A number of proposals are being considered but no group has yet been established to develop plans for veterans' visits.

Freedom of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is in respect of the publication (a) on the departmental website and (b) by placing copies in the Library of (i) all or (ii) only a selection of the information disclosed in response to freedom of information requests since January.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 10 February 2005
	The Ministry of Defence website hosts the MOD Publication Scheme (as required by s.19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000). Since early January 2005, the website has also included a FOI "Reading Room". This was specifically set up to publish information released in response to requests which is considered to be of wider public interest. We are keeping the Reading Room under review with the possibility of adding new Classes of Information to the Publication Scheme if appropriate. We do not plan to publish all information released in response to requests because some is not of general interest.
	Information on the website will be available to the Library of the House, and there seems no advantage, and potentially significant cost, in supplying hard copies. We therefore have no plans to do so.

Gulf War-related Illnesses

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2004, Official Report, column 354, on Gulf War related illnesses, if he will provide further details on the funding for the research programme on Gulf veterans' illnesses; which institutions are undertaking the research; and how the funding to carry out the research will be allotted.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence receives independent advice on its programme of research into whether the health of Gulf veterans has been adversely affected by their service in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict from the Medical Research Council (MRC). We will consider funding any proposal for research which has been formally considered and approved by the MRC.
	Studies which we have already funded (in whole or part) are:
	
		
			 Study Institution 
		
		
			 Epidemiological study of Mortality/Morbidity University of Manchester 
			 Epidemiological study of Reproductive Health London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 
			 Vaccines Interactions Research Programme Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (with independent academic support) and National Institute for Biological Standards and Control 
			 Systematic literature review of research University of Wales/University of Bristol 
			 Neuromuscular symptoms in Gulf veterans Kings College 
			 Testing for Squalene in vaccines Independent Laboratory 
			 Paraoxonase work Manchester Royal Infirmary and Kings College 
			 Anthropological study into "Gulf War Syndrome" PhD student at University College London 
			 Longitudinal study of changing health in Gulf veterans Kings College 
			 Cancer Study University of Manchester 
		
	
	We have also co-operated with epidemiological and clinical studies of UK veterans sponsored by the US Department of Defense and conducted by Kings College. Moreover, a number of research papers on the health of those veterans attending the Gulf veterans' Medical Assessment Programme have been published. In addition, further research into Gulf veterans' illnesses recommended by MRC following their review of the subject in 2003 is in various stages of progression.

MRSA

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of MRSA have been recorded in Ministry of Defence hospitals since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The majority of secondary care for armed forces personnel is now provided at Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs) which are based within NHS Trust hospitals around the UK. MRSA numbers are now monitored by the Infection Control Teams of each NHS Trust under the direction of a Consultant Microbiologist, not the MOD. The Department therefore does not hold these records. Royal hospital Haslar is currently an exception to this.
	Since April 2001 it has been run in partnership with Portsmouth hospital Trust. The number of cases of MRSA at Royal hospital Haslar are only available from the year 2000. Due to reasons of medical confidentiality, numbers are not broken down below five.
	
		Royal hospital Haslar:
		
			  Number of cases 
		
		
			 2000 (79)5 
			 2001 22 
			 2002 66 
			 2003 34 
			 2004 26 
			 2005 5 
		
	
	(79) Less than five cases.
	The Ministry of Defence currently has two military hospitals at its permanent overseas bases in Cyprus and Gibraltar. Records for these bases are only held for the last five years and less than five cases of MRSA have been recorded. Those cases recorded have been transferred in from other hospitals and no new cases of MRSA have been identified in either hospital in this period.

Nepal

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will withdraw the minute, dated 20 January, concerning the gifting of non-lethal military equipment to the Government of Nepal;

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will reconsider his decision to gift military equipment to Nepal in response to the actions by the King of Nepal since the departmental minute was tabled on 20 January.

Adam Ingram: In light of the recent events in Nepal, the Government have decided to withdraw the minute relating to the gift of military equipment pending a full review of our policy with regard to the provision of military assistance and equipment to Nepal. We are naturally extremely concerned with these events and we are currently consulting with our international partners on a co-ordinated response. I will write to my right hon. and hon. Friends when this review has developed.

Publicity

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure by his Department on (a) advertising and (b) advertising and publicity was in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 2003–04; and what the estimate of cost of each will be in (A) 2004–05, (B) 2005–06, (C) 2006–07 and (D) 2007–08.

Ivor Caplin: Details of the Ministry of Defence's expenditure on advertising and publicity are included in the annual Departmental Performance Reports, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. For 1996–97 the information is shown on page 49, Cm 3781 and for 1997–98 the information is shown on page 49, Cm 4170.
	Expenditure on advertising and advertising and publicity is now included in figures for publicity and recruiting, and a detailed breakdown is not available. For 2003–04, costs of publicity and recruitment were £53.6 million. We have no estimate for publicity and recruitment expenditure for the current year; expenditure in future years has not yet been decided.

Russia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the (a) technical and (b) tactical advances offered to the armed forces of Russia by the Bulava (SS-N-30) missile; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Bulava is reported to be a new solid propellant submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) which has been under development in Russia for several years and has a reported maximum range of approx 8000km. When it enters service, probably in a new class of submarine, it will supplement and eventually replace older SLBMs, thus enabling Russia to maintain its sea based strategic nuclear capability. Although not expected to provide Russia with a greater capability in terms of range, Bulava is likely to incorporate more modern materials and technology than currently deployed systems.

Russia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of (a) the Russian Kh-555 conventional missile and (b) what (i) technical and (ii) tactical advances this missile offers over the Kh-55 Granat missile; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Kh-555 is Russia's new conventionally-armed air-launched cruise missile and is based on the Kh-55 nuclear-armed cruise missile that was developed during the cold war. Both missiles are expected to be carried by Tu-95 Bear and Tu-160 Blackjack bombers.
	The Kh-555 has been in development for a number of years. The nuclear warhead is replaced by a 500 kg class conventional warhead. These changes are likely to reduce the range of the Kh-555 to 2,500–3,000 km compared to the Kh-55 range of 3,000–3,500 km.
	When fully integrated into operational units, the Kh-555 will provide Russia with the ability to strike high priority targets with precision from long ranges.

Sickness Absence

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of sick days taken by staff in the Department.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence is fully committed to taking forward the findings and delivery plan stemming from the joint Cabinet Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Health and Safety Executive initiative 'Managing Absence in the Public Sector'.
	We are undertaking a thorough review of our approach to managing absence and the requirement for occupational health advice. In the meantime, a new e-enabled sick absence reporting process is to be implemented from April 2005. As well improving the accuracy of sick absence reporting, this reinforces the responsibilities for all involved in the absence process. We have robust procedures for the management of short-term absence to tackle poor attendance. A lifestyle screening programme is available to all civilian staff, which monitors major health risk factors and provides advice on how risks can be reduced.

Staff Identity Cards

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of producing a staff identity pass was in the Department on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many staff identity passes have been reported lost or stolen in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: In the Ministry of Defence, all Service personnel are issued with a Service identity card, which is used to access all but the most sensitive areas. MOD civilians are not routinely issued with identity cards but are instead provided with a site-specific security pass. The present cost of producing either type of pass is approximately £4 per card. Information on how many passes have been reported lost or stolen in each year since 1997 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, records are available for 2003 and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 January 2004, Official Report, column 371W, to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten).

Suez Canal Zone Medal

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the application for a Suez Canal Zone Medal of Mr. Samuel Hill of Whitburn, West Lothian, referred to in the letter of 27 April 2004 from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, reference 1670/04/A, will be processed.

Ivor Caplin: Mr. Hill's Service Records were received by the Canal Zone Section at the Army Medal Office this week and a check of his eligibility to the medal carried out. I can confirm that he qualified for the General Service Medal 1918–62 with the clasp Canal Zone and arrangements have been made to have his Service details engraved on a new medal which will be despatched to him shortly.

Clergy (Employment Rights)

Huw Edwards: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what progress is being made in granting employment rights to clergy.

Stuart Bell: Last Tuesday the General Synod debated the group's second report and welcomed the recommendation that employment rights under section 23 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 be granted to all clergy. The report was commended to the wider Church for comment and an implementation group will be set up to bring forward legislation.

Hunting Act

Paul Flynn: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what action the Church Commissioners have taken to ensure that their tenants comply with the Hunting Act 2004.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners expect their tenants to obey the law and would not condone any breach of the hunting ban. Any such breach would be a matter for the police.

York Cathedral

Gordon Prentice: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what estimate the commissioners have made of the cost of restoring the fabric and maintaining the structures of York Cathedral; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart Bell: York Minster has recently identified the need for major repair work on the East Front. The Cathedrals Fabric Commission is involved in discussion with the Chapter and has encouraged it to look at all the options. Any estimates of costs would be a matter for the Chapter.
	I should add by way of the statement requested by my hon. Friend that in 2003 the Commissioners provided £2.5 million in grants to cathedrals and spent £3.8 million on cathedral clergy stipends. In the case of York Minster, it receives no other financial support from the Commissioners, whose grants are targeted on the least well resourced.

Bullying

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on steps taken by local education authorities to stop bullying in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.

Derek Twigg: There is much effective practice in preventing and addressing bullying in many LEAs around the country and the 'Make The Difference' conference programme has allowed this work to be shared and celebrated. The conferences offered LEAs as well as schools an opportunity to learn at first hand from the very successful. Many LEAs were represented at the nine regional conferences, either as speakers, workshop leaders or delegates and evaluations tell us that attendees left feeling inspired and motivated.
	The Anti Bullying Alliance (ABA) has been funded to sustain the momentum created by those conferences and each of their regional leads is working with the LEAs in their region to promote best practice and develop innovative and practical approaches to tackle bullying at strategic level. Anti bullying work has a high profile within the Key Stage 3 behaviour and attendance (B and A) strand and within the primary behaviour and attendance pilot, and there are KS3 Behaviour and Attendance Consultants in every LEA working directly with schools to tackle a range of behaviour issues including bullying.
	Many LEAs provide guidance on anti bullying to their schools to supplement and localise the guidance issued by the DfES nationally, and advice to parents on what to do if they are worried their child is being bullied.
	We know that LEAs around the country are at various stages of addressing this agenda. A number are well advanced and have been successfully working in this area for a number of years and other LEAs have recently appointed dedicated anti bullying officers or are considering doing so, but some have yet to tackle the problem in a structured and systematic way. We will continue to work through the national strategies and the ABA to encourage these LEAs to move forward on this agenda.

Child Abuse

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her targets are for reduction in child abuse deaths over the next 10 years.

Margaret Hodge: The Government does not have specific targets to reduce the numbers of child abuse deaths. We do want all children to stay safe and to reduce the number of avoidable child deaths. That is why following the Laming Inquiry that reported on the terrible death of Victoria Climbié we have introduced a major programme of action called "Every Child Matters: Change for Children". This includes the introduction of: a duty on key local services to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; "Local Safeguarding Children Boards" (LSCBs) to make sure that local agencies and services are doing this effectively; Local Screening Teams to investigate all unexpected child deaths; better sharing of information, with new systems for all local agencies to share concerns that they have about a particular child; and a new inspection framework. Agencies' involvement in LSCBs and the work of LSCBs themselves will be assessed regularly by the relevant inspectorates.
	We have provided £90 million in 2004–05 and 2005–06 as a Specific Formula Grant to support councils in improving their services to safeguard children.

Childcare Places

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the change has been in the number of child care places in North Durham since 2001.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested. The available information on child care places and nursery education places is shown in the tables.
	The available information on child care places, for Durham local authority area, is shown in Tables 1 and 2.
	
		Table 1: Number 1,2 of registered child care places for children under eight years of age by type of care Durham local authority area—position at 31 March each year 2003 and 2004
		
			 Type of care 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Full day care 2,300 2,800 
			 Sessional day care 1,400 1,400 
			 Childminders 3,100 3,400 
			 Out of school day care 1,700 1,900 
			 Creche day care 500 500 
		
	
	(80) Rounded to the nearest 100 places.
	(81) Data Source: Ofsted
	
		Table 2: Number 1,2 of day care places for children under eight years of age by type of provider Durham local authority area—position at 31 March each year 2001 to 2002
		
			 Type of provider 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Day nurseries 1,500 n/a 
			 Playgroups and pre-schools 2,200 n/a 
			 Childminders 3,900 n/a 
			 Out of school clubs 1,600 n/a 
			 Holiday schemes(84) 7,900 n/a 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	(82) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 places.
	(83) Data Source: Children's Day Care Facilities Survey.
	(84) From 1999, places were counted once for each school holiday. Before 1999, places were counted once each year.
	The figures for child care places for 2003 and 2004 are not directly comparable with the day care figures for 1997–2001. The figures for 2003 and 2004 were derived from the Ofsted database of registered child care providers. The figures for 1997–2001 were derived from the Children's Day Care Facilities Survey, which was discontinued in 2001. There are no figures for 2002.
	With the introduction of the National Day Care Standards and the transfer of responsibilities for registration and inspection of child care providers from local authority Social Service Departments to Ofsted in September 2001, childcare places were classified according to the type of day care provided: full day care, sessional day care, childminder, out of school day care or creche day care. Ofsted have produced figures based on this classification on a quarterly basis from March 2003. Their latest figures were published on 19 January 2005 in their report "Registered Childcare Providers and Places, 31 December 2004", which is available on their website, www.ofsted.gov.uk/publications.
	Up until March 2001, child care providers were classified according to the type of provider: day nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools, childminders, out of school clubs and holiday schemes. Figures based on this classification were published in a series of statistical bulletins, which are available from the Department's website, www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics.
	The available information on nursery education places, for Durham local authority area, is shown in Table 3.
	
		Table 3: Number(85) of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-olds Durham local authority area—maintained schools and private, voluntary and independent providers of early years education
		
			 Position in January each year 2001–04 Number 
		
		
			 2001 (86)9,900 
			 2002 (86)10,200 
			 2003 (87)10,000 
			 2004 9,600 
		
	
	(85) Rounded to the nearest 100 places.
	(86) Sources: Sources:
	Annual schools' census and nursery education grant data collection exercise
	(87) Annual schools' census, nursery education grant data collection exercise and early years census.

Children Act

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the Children Act 2004 amends the inspection regimes facing local government.

Margaret Hodge: To ensure a shared approach across inspection, the Children Act 2004 allows for the creation of a Framework for the inspection of Children's Services and for inspectorates to carry out joint area reviews (JARs) of all children's services provided in an area.
	The new inspection arrangements will capture how well services are delivered and how well they work together to improve children and young people's wellbeing. Through the common approach provided by the Framework, joint area reviews will provide a picture of what it is to be a child in the local authority area being reviewed. JARs will replace a number of existing separate inspections for children and young people at local authority level, including LEA inspections, Connexions service inspections and inspections of children's social care. Together, inspectorates will judge the way in which all services for education, health, social care and youth justice, both individually and collectively contribute to improving outcomes.
	Ofsted, in partnership with other related inspectorates and commissions, are currently consulting on new arrangements for Children's Services inspection.

Children Act

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what new responsibilities the Children Act 2004 places on local authorities.

Margaret Hodge: The Children Act 2004 places a number of new statutory duties on those persons and bodies responsible for children's services, including local authorities. These new duties will help improve outcomes for all children and young people, by maximising opportunity and minimising risk.
	The new duties are set out in enclosures 1 and 3 of 'Every Child Matters: Change for Children'. This can be downloaded from www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/ content/documents/Every%20Child%20Matinserts.pdf

Children in Care

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are in (a) children's homes and (b) foster care, broken down by ethnic group.

Margaret Hodge: The following table shows the number of children looked after at 31 March 2004 by placement and ethnicity.
	
		Children looked after at 31 March 2004 in a children's home or a foster placement by ethnicity1, 3, 4
		
			 Number 
			  Placement 
			 England All children Foster Children's homes(89) 
		
		
			 All children 61,100 41,600 7,000 
			 White 48,800 33,200 5,500 
			 Mixed 4,800 3.300 500 
			 Asian or Asian British 1,500 990 130 
			 Black or Black British 4,900 3.400 700 
			 Other ethnic groups 1,200 770 180 
		
	
	(88) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements.
	(89) Includes secure units, homes and hostels subject to children's homes regulations, and homes and hostels not subject to children's homes regulations, but excludes residential schools.
	(90) Figures taken from the SSDA903 return.
	(91) Figures over 1,000 have been rounded to the nearest 100. All other figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Children looked after in England (including adoptions and care leavers), 2003–04.

Children's Fund Partnership

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the outcome was of (a) the Redbridge Children's Fund partnership and (b) the Waltham Forest Children's Fund partnership submitting a budget and preventive plan to the regional team demonstrating how funding for 2005 to 2008 would be spent; whether the funding for this period has now been agreed; what main activities will be undertaken; what the likely funding will be; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Redbridge Children's Fund Partnership have had their plan, including their funding plan, approved for three years and will be drawing down a total of £1.7 millioin. This resource will support a number of local projects, including—for example—the Children's Participation Project run by the Redbridge council for Voluntary Services and the Youth Crime Prevention Team. The Partnership has yet to make firm decisions on the other services it will commission beyond July 2005.
	Waltham Forest.Children's Fund Partnership have had their plan approved for one year, and will be submitting an updated plan for 2006–08 later this year. Subject to this plan being satisfactory, they will be able to access funding totalling £2.5 million over the three year period 2005–08. This resource will support a number of local projects, including—for example:
	the 5–13 Early Intervention team;
	the Youth Inclusion and Support Panel;
	work with Somali families;
	work with young victims of crime and bullying.
	The partnership will be finalising the range of services it will support for 2005- 06 and beyond between now and April.

Chorley High Schools

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils are attending Chorley high schools; and how many pupils attended each such school in each of the last five years.

Stephen Twigg: The available information on pupils attending Chorley secondary schools is shown in the following table.
	
		Maintained secondary schools: number on roll—Chorley parliamentary constituency
		
			 Position in January each year 
			 School name 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 
		
		
			 Chorley Southlands high school 1,023 1,003 993 978 958 
			 Parklands high school 1,107 1,085 1,061 1,049 1,043 
			 Albany Science College 608 835 840 812 814 
			 Rivington and Blackrod high school 1,913 1.889 1,845 1,823 1,799 
			 Bishop Rawstome Church of England language college 925 926 926 889 867 
			 St. Michael's Church of England high school 1,111 1,100 1,090 1,056 1,045 
			 Holy Cross Catholic high school, a sports and science college 829 806 791 775 763 
			 Total all secondary schools 7,716 7,644 7,546 7,382 7,289 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures as reported by schools via the Annual Schools' Census

Correspondence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will reply to the letter dated 29 July 2004 sent to her predecessor by the hon. Member for Brent, East regarding Ms Margaret Thomas.

Derek Twigg: The Department has no record of having received correspondence from the hon. Member regarding Ms Margaret Thomas. The Department's officials requested and received a copy of the correspondence on 8 February, and I expect be able to reply by 1 March 2005.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will reply to the letter dated 30 December 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Wrigh Robinson Sports College.

Derek Twigg: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State replied to the right hon. Member's letter of 30 December on 08 February.

Departmental Policies

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effect of her Department's actions and policies on Blackpool, South constituency since (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

Stephen Twigg: The Blackpool South constituency lies within Blackpool local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents achievement for pupils attending schools in Blackpool South are given in the following tables:
	
		Key stage 2 achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Blackpool South constituency
		
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above 1997 2001 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Blackpool South—English(92) 57 70 73 16 
			 Blackpool South—Maths(92) 55 70 70 15 
			 National Average—English(93) 63 75 78 15 
			 National Average—Maths(93) 61 71 74 13 
		
	
	(92) Pupils attending schools in Blackpool South constituency.
	(93) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools).
	
		GCSE and equivalents(94) achievement of 15-year-old pupils(95) attending schools in the Blackpool South constituency
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 1997 2001 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Blackpool South—5+A*-C 30.4 34.0 31.9 1.5 
			 Blackpool South—5+A*-G 79.1 83.6 86.7 7.6 
			 Blackpool South—1+A*-G 88.5 92.5 96.6 8.1 
			 National average—5+A*-C 45.1 50.0 53.7 8.6 
			 National average—5+A*-G 87.0 88.9 88.8 1.8 
			 National average—1+A*-G 92.3 94.5 95.9 3.6 
		
	
	(94) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(95) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged-15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The Primary and Key Stage 3 National Strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas are continuing to deliver better results,
	Further information by constituency, is provided within the Department's "In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/lnyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offers comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, government office region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE/GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post 16, Higher Education and Adult Education.
	Additional information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post-16.

Departmental Policies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Chorley constituency, the effect of her Department's actions and policies on Chorley since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The Chorley constituency lies within Lancashire local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents Achievement for pupils attending schools in Chorley are given in the following tables:
	
		Key Stage 2 Achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Chorley constituency—percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above
		
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997/2004 
		
		
			 Chorley—English(96) 71 82 11 
			 Chorley—Maths(96) 73 78 5 
			 National Average—English(97) 63 78 15 
			 National Average—Maths(97) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(96) Pupils attending schools in Chorley constituency
	(97) The average for all schools in England (Including independent schools)
	
		GCSE and equivalents(98) Achievement of 15-year-old pupils(99) attending schools in the Chorley constituency
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997/2004 
		
		
			 Chorley—5 + A*-C 53.7 60.9 7.2 
			 Chorley—5 + A*-G 91.6 90.5 -1.1 
			 National Average—5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 National Average—5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
		
	
	(98) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(99) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The Primary and Key Stage 3 National Strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas are continuing to deliver better results.
	Further information by constituency, is provided within the Department's "In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offers comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government Office Region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE/GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post 16, Higher Education and Adult Education
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The 'In Your Area' website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post 16.

Departmental Policies

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effects of her Department's policies since 2 May 1997 on the constituents of Ilford North.

Stephen Twigg: The Ilford North constituency lies within Redbridge local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents Achievement for pupils attending schools in Ilford North are given in the following tables:
	
		Key Stage 2 Achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Ilford North constituency, 
		
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above 
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Ilford North—English(100) 68 80 12 
			 Ilford North—Maths 63 77 14 
			 National Average—English(100) 63 78 15 
			 National Average—Mathst(101) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(100) Pupils attending schools in Ilford North constituency.
	(101) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools).
	
		GCSE and equivalents(102) Achievement of 15-year-old pupils(103) attending schools in the Ilford North constituency
		
			  Percentage of 15 year olds gaining19972004Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Ilford North—5 + A*-C 48.5 62.6 14.1 
			 Ilford North—5 + A*-G 88.1 93.1 8.0 
			 Ilford North—1 + A*-G 96.0 97.5 1.5 
			 National Average—5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 National Average—5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
			 National Average—1+ A*-G 92.3 95.9 3.6 
		
	
	(102) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(103) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	Further information by constituency, is provided within the Department's "In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offers comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, government office region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE/GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post 16, Higher Education and Adult Education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post 16.

Departmental Policies

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Maidenhead constituency, the effects on Maidenhead of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The Maidenhead constituency lies within Windsor and Maidenhead local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents Achievement for pupils attending schools in Maidenhead are given in the following tables.
	
		Key Stage 2 Achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Maidenhead constituency
		
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above 
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Maidenhead—English(104) 73 88 15 
			 Maidenhead—maths(104) 73 85 12 
			 National average—English(105) 63 78 15 
			 National average—maths(105) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(104) Pupils attending schools in Maidenhead constituency.
	(105) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools).
	
		GCSE and equivalents(106) Achievement of 15-year-old pupils(107) attending schools in the Maidenhead constituency.
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Maidenhead—5 + A*-C 58.3 60.1 1.8 
			 Maidenhead—5 + A*-G 95.6 93.9 -1.7 
			 National average—5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 National average—5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
		
	
	(106) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(107) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The Primary and Key Stage 3 National Strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas are continuing to deliver better results.
	Further information by constituency, is provided within the Department's "In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offers comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are Parliamentary constituency, Ward, Local Authority District, Local Education Authority, Government Office Region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE / GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post 16, Higher Education and Adult Education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post 16.

Departmental Policies

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Pendle constituency, the effects on Pendle of her Department's policies and activities since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The Pendle constituency lies within Lancashire local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents Achievement for pupils attending schools in Pendle are given in the following tables:
	
		Key Stage 2 Achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Pendle constituency
		
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above. 
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Pendle—English(108) 61 75 14 
			 Pendle—Maths(108) 60 72 12 
			 National Average—English(109) 63 78 15 
			 National Average—Maths(109) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(108) Pupils attending schools in Pendle constituency.
	(109) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools).
	
		GCSE and equivalents(110) Achievement of 15-year-old pupils(111) attending schools in the Pendle constituency
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Pendle—5 + A*-C 37.1 40.4 3.3 
			 Pendle—5 + A*-G 83.5 86.8 3.3 
			 Pendle—1 + A*-G 91.5 93.5 2.0 
			 National Average—5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 National Average—5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
			 National Average—1+ A*-G 92.3 95.9 3.6 
		
	
	(110) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(111) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	Further information by constituency, is provided within the Department's "In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offers comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, government office region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE/GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post 16, Higher Education and Adult Education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post 16.

Departmental Policies

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Reading, West constituency, the effects on Reading, West of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The Reading, West constituency lies within Reading local education authority. The most recent key stage 2 and GCSE and equivalent achievement for pupils attending schools in Reading, West are given in the following tables:
	
		Key stage 2 achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Reading, West constituency—Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above
		
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Reading, West
			 English(112) 56 75 19 
			 Maths(112) 52 69 17 
			 
			 National Average
			 English(113) 63 78 15 
			 Maths(113) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(112) Pupils attending schools in Reading, West constituency.
	(113) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools)
	
		GCSE and equivalent achievement of 15-year-old pupils(114) attending schools in the Reading, West constituency
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Reading West
			 5 + A*-C 37.4 44.5 7.1 
			 5 + A*-G 83.8 86.5 2.7 
			 1 + A*-G 90.0 93.7 3.7 
			 
			 National Average
			 5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
			 1+ A*-G 92.3 95.9 3.6 
		
	
	(114) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(115) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The primary and key stage 3 national strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas are continuing to deliver better results.
	Further information by constituency, is provided within the Department's "In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offers comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government office region. England figures are also provided. The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including literacy and numeracy at age 11, literacy and numeracy at age 14, GCSE / GNVQ results, pupils with special educational needs, school initiatives, school workforce, school funding and resources, children's social services, early years, class sizes, post 16, higher education and adult education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about adult education, school funding, school initiatives, school performance, school workforce and post 16.

Departmental Policies

Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Tatton constituency, the effects on Tatton of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The Tatton constituency lies within Cheshire local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents Achievement for pupils attending schools in Tatton are given in the following tables:
	
		Key Stage 2 Achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Tatton constituency—Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above
		
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997 to 2004 
		
		
			 Tatton—English(116) 73 85 12 
			 Tatton—Maths(116) 72 83 11 
			 National Average—English(117) 63 78 15 
			 National Average—Maths(117) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(116) Pupils attending schools in Tatton constituency
	(117) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools)
	
		GCSE and equivalents(118) Achievement of 15-year-old pupils(119) attending schools in the Tatton constituency
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997 to 2004 
		
		
			 Tatton—5 + A*-C 50.2 59.6 9.4 
			 Tatton—5 + A*-G 89.0 91.5 2.5 
			 Tatton—1 + A*-G 93.9 95.7 1.8 
			 National Average—5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 National Average—5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
			 National Average—1+ A*-G 92.3 95.9 3.6 
		
	
	(118) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(119) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The Primary and Key Stage 3 National Strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas are continuing to deliver better results.
	Further information by constituency, is provided within the Department's "In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offers comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government Office Region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE / GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post 16, Higher Education and Adult Education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The 'In Your Area' website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post 16.

Departmental Policies

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Witney constituency, the effects on Witney of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The Witney constituency lies within Oxfordshire local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents Achievement for pupils attending schools in Witney are given in the following tables.
	
		Key Stage 2 Achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Witney constituency.
		
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above 
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Witney—English(120) 71 80 9 
			 Witney—maths(120) 66 79 13 
			 National average—English(121) 63 78 15 
			 National average—maths(121) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(120) Pupils attending schools in Witney constituency.
	(121) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools).
	
		GCSE and equivalents(122) Achievement of 15-year-old pupils(123) attending schools in the Witney constituency.
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Witney—5 + A*-C 53.3 60.3 7.0 
			 Witney—5 + A*-G 91.9 93.6 1.7 
			 National average—5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 National average—5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
		
	
	(122) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(123) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The Primary and Key Stage 3 National Strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas are continuing to deliver better results.
	Further information by constituency, is provided within the Department's "In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education Authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offers comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are Parliamentary constituency, Ward, Local Authority District, Local Education Authority, Government Office Region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE / GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post 16, Higher Education and Adult Education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post 16.

Education Funding

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding was allocated by the Higher Education Funding Council to institutions in each region of England in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05; and how much will be allocated to each region in 2005–06.

Kim Howells: The information on recurrent funding for the 2003–04 and 2004–05 academic years is shown in the table. Funding for 2005–06 has not yet been allocated. This will be announced by the Funding Council in March and finalised before the start of the academic year. The details will be published on the HEFCE website www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs.
	
		
			   £ 
			 Region 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Eastern 331,955,091 346,910,892 
			 East Midlands 374,804,576 395,594,592 
			 London 1,089,681,410 1,151,336,052 
			 North East 255,911,200 274,637,443 
			 North West 580,977,274 614,173,467 
			 South East 761,680,303 802,284,781 
			 South West 356,913,892 384,473,659 
			 West Midlands 397,899,016 419,512,542 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 490,045,241 519,620,441 
		
	
	Source:
	HEFCE recurrent grants final allocations 2003–04 and 2004–05. Higher education institutions may also receive funding for capital and for special initiatives from HEFCE.

Education Funding

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants are employed in schools in (a) Warrington and (b) Warrington North.

Stephen Twigg: In January 2004 there were 460 full-time equivalent teaching assistants in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, and pupil referral units, in Warrington local education authority. There were 240 in Warrington North parliamentary constituency.

Ethnic Minorities

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the extent to which her Department's policies are meeting the needs of ethnic minorities.

Derek Twigg: My Department is fully committed to equality and diversity and to meeting our obligations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. We recognise that through evaluating our policies and processes thoroughly, we go a long way to achieving this.
	Like many public bodies, we have an obligation to publish a Race Equality Scheme every three years. This requires us to examine all our policies and functions to identify those that are most likely to adversely impact on black and minority ethnic people, prioritise their significance and develop action plans to address the problem. The Department updates its action plan within the scheme annually in the light of the latest evidence.
	We are currently working on the Department's new scheme, to be published by the end of May 2005, in accordance with the statutory requirements. In doing so, each programme in the Department has assessed its functions and policies framed around the Department's five year strategy, for their contribution to race equality. A full Department-wide examination of our policies will continue to be made every three years and the results will be published and available on the Department's website.
	In addition the Department is committed to the process of Race Impact Assessment, an example of which can be seen in our published assessments within the higher education sector.

Expenditure per Pupil

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much central Government funding was spent on average per child in England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: My Department does not collect information on overall Government funding on children. However, the funding per pupil in England in year 2004–05 was £4,020.
	Notes
	1. Price Base: Cash.
	2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education EPS settlements and include the pensions transfer to EPS and LSC.
	3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 3 to 19 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	4. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the EPS settlement calculations.
	5. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.
	6. Status: 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

Failing Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by what criteria a school is judged to be a failing school.

Stephen Twigg: A school is judged to require special measures following an Ofsted inspection which concludes that it is failing to provide an acceptable standard of education for its pupils. The factors inspectors must consider in reaching a judgement that a school requires special measures are set out in the Ofsted "Handbooks for Inspecting Schools" available on the Ofsted website.

Faith Based Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many private faith based schools there were, broken down by faith, in each year between 1997 to 2004.

Stephen Twigg: The figures in the following table show the number of independent faith based schools there were in each year from 1997 to 2003 based on schools inspection criteria.
	
		
			  Jewish Muslim Evangelical Christian 
		
		
			 1997 53 54 53 
			 1998 52 61 55 
			 1999 53 65 63 
			 2000 52 71 67 
			 2001 55 73 68 
			 2002 59 77 70 
			 2003 56 75 76 
		
	
	In 2004 we asked all independent schools for the first time to indicate their religious ethos, if any, and the results are given as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Buddhist 1 
			 Church of England 284 
			 Hindu 1 
			 Jewish (124)37 
			 Methodist 14 
			 Muslim 111 
			 Other Christian 355 
			 Roman Catholic 122 
			 Sikh 1 
		
	
	(124) We recognise 50 Jewish schools for inspection purposes

Free Nursery Places

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Birmingham have benefited from free nursery places since the policy was introduced, broken down by constituency.

Margaret Hodge: All four-year-olds in England have been entitled to a free part-time early education place since September 1998. All three-year-olds in England have been entitled to a free part-time early education place since April 2004.
	The available information on the numbers of free part-time early education places taken up by three and four year olds in Birmingham local education authority area and parliamentary constituencies within Birmingham since 1997 is shown in the tables.
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release 39/2004 "Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2004 (final)", which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
	
		Number of free nursery education places(125) taken up by three and four-year-old—Birmingham local education authority area—position in January each year
		
			  3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
			  Maintained nursery and primary schools(126) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers Total 3-year-olds Maintained nursery and primary schools(127) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers Total 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 7,400 n/a 7,400 n/a n/a (128)12,500 
			 1998 7,500 n/a 7,500 n/a n/a (129)13,300 
			 1999 7,400 n/a 7,400 n/a n/a (128)14,200 
			 2000 7,300 (130)3,300 10,600 n/a n/a (128)14,000 
			 2001 7,200 (130)3,800 11,000 n/a n/a (129)14,000 
			 2002 6,800 (130)4,500 11,300 12,600 (129)1,500 14,000 
			 2003 6,700 (130)4,600 11,300 12,200 (131)1,600 13,800 
			 2004 6,700 (129)4,200 10,900 12,000 (131)1,600 13,600 
		
	
	n/a = not available.
	(125) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 as appropriate.
	(126) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(127) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(128) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise.
	(129) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	(130) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise.
	(131) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	
		Number of free nursery education places(132) taken up by three and four-year-olds by parliamentary constituency—Birmingham local education authority area—position in January 2004
		
			  3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
			 Constituency Maintained nursery and primary schools(133) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers(134) Total 3-year-olds Maintained nursery and primary schools(135) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers(136) Total 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 Birmingham, Edgbaston 310 620 940 670 330 1,000 
			 Birmingham, Erdington 630 380 1,000 1,000 160 1,200 
			 Birmingham, Hall Green 400 250 640 760 90 850 
			 Birmingham, Hodge Hill 680 220 900 1,200 70 1,200 
			 Birmingham, Ladywood 1,300 450 1,700 1.800 140 2.000 
			 Birmingham, Northfield 420 350 770 850 110 960 
			 Birmingham, Perry Barr 640 300 930 1.100 100 1.200 
			 Birmingham, Selly Oak 460 330 780 830 100 930 
			 Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath 1,200 540 1,700 2,000 210 2,200 
			 Birmingham, Yardley 460 250 710 890 70 960 
			 Sutton Coldfield 270 490 760 870 180 1.000 
			 Birmingham (postcode unknown)(137) 0 50 50 0 (138)— (138)— 
			 Birmingham LEA total 6,700 4,200 10,900 12,000 1,600 13.600 
		
	
	(132) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 as appropriate.
	(133) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(134) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	(135) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(136) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	(137) Matching providers to constituencies makes use of the provider postcode as returned in the Early Years Census data collection exercise.
	(138) Negligible.

Further Education

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to reduce the funding gap between schools' sixth forms and further education colleges in the London North Learning and Skills Council area.

Stephen Twigg: Government recognise that there are differences in the funding allocated to further education colleges and school sixth forms nationally and has taken action to address this. For the academic year 2003/04, base funding rates per qualification increased by 3 per cent. for school sixth forms and by 4.5 per cent. for further education colleges on a broadly comparable basis. In 2004/05, funding rates for colleges meeting their targets increased by 5 per cent., while those for school sixth forms rose by 4 per cent. This trend will continue in the 2005/06 academic year.

GCSE Results (North Durham)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the GCSE results were for students in North Durham in (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: The table shows the results of 15-year-old pupils in GCSE and equivalent examinations for North Durham in 1997,2001 and 2004:
	
		Percentage
		
			 Percentage achieving: 1997 2001 2004 
		
		
			 5 or more grades A*-C 34.7 44.9 47.2 
			 5 or more grades A*-G 86.8 88.8 89.1 
			 Any passes 91.7 93.4 94.1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	2. For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.

International Students

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 21 December 2004, Official Report, column 1701W to the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman), on international students, if she will list the organisations and individuals from which representations have been received.

Kim Howells: The following table shows details of the representations received by my Department as at 10 February 2005 on the proposed charges for visa extension applications made by international students.
	
		Representations to the Department for Education and Skills on Home Office proposals to increase charges for leave to remain applications as at 10 February 2005
		
			 Correspondent On behalf of: Organisation 
		
		
			 Edward Gamier MP Sir Marrack Goulding Warden, St. Antony's College, University of Oxford 
			 Professor Michael Stirling — Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham 
			 Signed cards from 132 students — Universities of Newcastle and Northumbria 
			 Chileya Kasuba and Emma Wodfield (accompanied by 231 signed cards from members of University of Portsmouth SU) — Student Support Officer and President, Portsmouth Students Union 
			 Baroness Diana Warwick — Chief Executive, Universities UK 
			 Wes Streeting — Chair, Aldwych Group and President, Cambridge University Students' Union 
			 John Randall MP Wes Streeting President, Cambridge University Students' Union 
			 Anne McIntosh MP Wes Streeting President, Cambridge University Students' Union 
			 Tim Boswell MP John Wrathmell Universities UK 
			 Tony Worthington MP Steve Cockburn President, Edinburgh University Students' Association 
			 David Chidgey MP Professor Bill Wakeham Vice-Chancellor, University of Southampton 
			 Michael Martin MP Steve Cockburn President, Edinburgh University Students' Association 
			 Chris Grayling MP — Shadow Minister for Education 
			 David Rendel MP — Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Higher Education 
			 Gisela Stuart MP Moataz Attallah International student 
			 Dr Rudi Vis MP Mr. David Simons Principal, Golders Green College 
			 A F Richard — Vice Chancellor, University of Cambridge 
			 Graham Allen MP — On behalf of Nottingham universities 
			 Dr. John Brennan — Chief Executive, Association of Colleges 
			 Professor Sir Andrew Haines — London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 
			 Professor John Craven — Vice Chancellor, University of Portsmouth 
			 Dr. Rudi Vis MP Mr. David Simons, Principal, Golders Green College 
			 Brian Lang — Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of St. Andrews 
			 Professor Robert Pearce — Vice-Chancellor, University of Wales Lampeter 
			 Professor Graham Upton — Vice-Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University 
			 Professor Tim Wilson — Vice-Chancellor University of Hertfordshire 
			 Professor Wakeham — Vice-Chancellor University of Southampton 
			 Professor Gregson — Vice-Chancellor Queens University Belfast 
			 Professor Gordon Marshall — Vice Chancellor, University of Reading 
			 Professor Alan Pearman — Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Leeds 
			 Eugene Critchlow — Academic Registrar, De Montfort University 
			 Melvyn Cornish — University Secretary, University of Edinburgh 
			 Professor David Tidmarsh — Vice Chancellor, Anglia Polytechnic University 
			 Professor Geoff Whitty — Director, Institute of Education, University of London 
			 Professor Joan K Stringer — Principal and Vice Chancellor Napier University 
			 Dr. David Grant — Director of Strategic Development, Cardiff University 
			 Professor Ray Cocks — Pro Vice-Chancellor, Keele University 
			 Sir Howard Davies — Director, LSE 
			 Dr. Ian Johnson — Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Glasgow Caledonian University 
			 Brian Summers — Registrar and Secretary, University of E. Anglia 
			 Professor Chris Taylor — Vice-Chancellor, University of Bradford 
			 Professor C Duncan Rice — Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Aberdeen 
			 Sir David Wallace — Vice-Chancellor, University of Loughborough 
			 Professor John S Brookes — Vice-Chancellor, University of Wolverhampton 
			 Professor Paul W Wellings — Vice-Chancellor, Lancaster University 
			 Alfred Morris — Vice-Chancellor, University of the West of England 
			 Sir Muir Russell — Principal, University of Glasgow 
			 Elizabeth Lister — Director, Recruitment and Admissions Service, Heriot-Watt University 
			 Professor Patrick Dowling — Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Surrey 
			 Professor J Drummond Bone — Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool 
			 Professor Stephen Hill — Principal, University of Holloway, London 
			 Professor Tim Wilson — Vice-Chancellor, University of Hertfordshire 
			 Professor Brenda Gourley — Vice-Chancellor, The Open University 
			 Professor William Stevely — Principal and Vice-Chancellor, the Robert Gordon University 
			 Dr. David J Halton — Vice-Chancellor, University of Glamorgan 
			 Sir David Watson — Vice-Chancellor, University of Brighton 
			 Professor Anthony P Cohen — Professor and Vice Patron, Queen Margaret University College 
			 Professor Adrian Smith — Principal, Queen Mary University of London 
			 Clare Short MP James Anthony University of Birmingham Guild of Students 
			 Nick Palmer MP Chris Weekes Vice Principal, Broxtowe College 
			 Jon Owen Jones MP Louise Casella Director of Strategic Development, Cardiff University 
			 Professor Robert G Burgess — Vice Chancellor, University of Leicester 
			 Professor ADR Dickson — Deputy Vice Chancellor, Northumbria University 
			 Kat Fletcher — National President, NUS 
			 Christabel Silva — National Chair, Council for International Students

Looked-after Children

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of (a) looked-after children and (b) former looked-after children who received custodial sentences in each year between 1997 and 2004;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of (a) looked-after children and (b) former-looked after children who received custodial sentences in each year between 1997 and 2004.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested on sentencing is not collected centrally. However, the following tables how the numbers of looked after children who were in a young offenders institution or prison at 31 March, and the number of 19-year-old former care leavers in custody on their 19th birthday.
	
		Children looked after at 31 March in a young offenders institution or prison
		
			 Number 
			  Year ending 31 March 
			 England 1997(140) 1998(141) 1999(141) 2000(141) 2001(142) 2002(142) 2003(142) 
		
		
			 Number of children looked after(139) 51,200 53,300 55,500 58,100 58,900 59,700 60,800 
			 Number of children looked after in a young offenders institution 150 170 180 170 150 120 100 
		
	
	(139) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements.
	(140) Figures derived from the SSDA903 return.
	(141) Figures taken from the CLA100 return.
	(142) Figures derived from the CLA100 return and the SSDA903 return.
	Note:
	1. Figures over 1,000 have been rounded to the nearest 100. All other figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Children looked after by local authorities, year ending 31 March 2003.
	
		Former care leavers at age-19 who were looked after on 1 April aged-16 in custody, 2002–041, 6, 7
		
			 Number 
			  Year ending 31 March 
			 England 2002(144) 2003(145) 2004(146) 
		
		
			 All young people(147) 4,700 4,900 5,100 
			 In custody 110 120 120 
		
	
	(143) Figures exclude children who were looked after on 1 April aged-16 under an agreed series of short term placements
	(144) Looked after on 1 April 1999
	(145) Looked after on 1 April 2000.
	(146) Looked after on 1 April 2001.
	(147) Figures include former care leavers with whom the local authority is not in touch.
	(148) Figures taken from the OC3 return.
	(149) Figures over 1,000 have been rounded to the nearest 100. All other figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Children looked after in England (including adoptions and care leavers), 2003–04.

Looked-after Children

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of cared for children who become involved in prostitution.

Margaret Hodge: The data requested is not collected or held centrally.

Morecambe and Lunesdale (Funding)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much Government funding has been spent on education in Morecambe and Lunesdale in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas, rather than districts within an LEA. Morecambe and Lunesdale form part of Lancashire LEA. The information is contained within the following table:
	
		
			 Combined LEA and school based expenditure1,2 Cash terms (£) 
		
		
			 1994–95 583,765,000 
			 1995–96 570,257,000 
			 1996–97 577,176,000 
			 1997–98(152) 586,427,000 
			 1998–99(153) 492,850,000 
			 1999–2000 508,395,000 
			 2000–01 532,819,000 
			 2001–02 588,951,000 
			 2002–03 595,937,000 
			 2003–04 703,296,000 
		
	
	(150) The combined LEA and school based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in LEA maintained establishments and pupils educated by the LEA other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school based expenditure and all elements of central LEA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA).
	2 Upto and including 1998–99 financial data are taken from Revenue Outturn spending returns submitted to the ODPM. From 1999–00 onwards financial data are taken from Section 52 Outturn Statements submitted to the Department for Education and Skills. 2003–04 data remains provisional and is subject to change by the LEA.
	(151) Spending in 1997–98 reflects the transfer of moneys from local government to central government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 1998–99.
	(152) Local government reorganisation (LGR) took place on the 1 April 1998 where pre-LGR Lancashire LEA was split into Lancashire LEA, Blackburn with Darwin LEA and Blackpool LEA. As a result, upto 1997–98 data is for pre-LGR Lancashire LEA and from 1998–99 data is for post-LGR Lancashire LEA. This break in consistency is shown by the dotted line.
	Notes:
	1. Financial data is collected at local authority level and not constituency level and as such the figures provided are for Lancashire LEA.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as reported by Lancashire LEA at 14 February 2005.

Morecambe and Lunesdale (Funding)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on computers for schools in Morecambe and Lunesdale since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The Department does not hold information on funding for ICT at constituency level. However, Morecambe and Lunesdale is in Lancashire LEA and allocations for this authority, since 1998, are detailed in "Funding for ICT in Schools in England" which is available in the House Library.

Pupil Referral Units

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average cost of providing a pupil with education in a referral unit was in Lancashire in each year since 2000.

Derek Twigg: We do not hold the information requested, although we do hold planned net expenditure on Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) places in Lancashire.
	The number of pupils shown in the following table is for pupils attending PRUs who are not registered at a maintained mainstream or special school. This underestimates PRU activity, and therefore over estimates the unit cost, as it does not include the number of pupils attending a PRU, but registered in another school. The figures do not include cross-border pupils who live in Lancashire but attend a PRU in a bordering authority, for which Lancashire LEA pays. This payments included in the planned expenditure, but the number of pupils involved is not known.
	The average cost of a pupil attending a PRU in England is £10,000.
	
		
			  Planned net expenditure on PRUs (£) Pupils attending PRUs 
			  Lancashire England Lancashire England 
		
		
			 2000–01 4,054,057 100,309,321 70 9,019 
			 2001–02 4,245,559 108,466,872 131 9,734 
			 2002–03 9,761,772 134,740,764 149 11,322 
			 2003–04 9,948,486 177,444,103 297 12,694 
			 2004–05 10,219,390 198,460,713 n/a n/a 
		
	
	n/a= denotes figures not available.
	Note:
	1. The planned net expenditure on PRUs includes all planned expenditure on the provision of education at PRUs as defined in section 19 of the 1996 Act. Figures for 2001–02 onwards include all School Standards Grant income and expenditure in relation to PRUs.

Pupil Referral Units

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what training is required for a teacher to teach in a pupil referral unit; what the cost of the training is; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: Teachers in pupil referral units are the same as any other teachers and therefore receive the same initial teacher training as teachers in other schools.
	There are a number of different routes into teaching. According to research, undertaken by JM Consulting Ltd. for my Department, the average annual cost of initial teacher training per full time equivalent student was £5,973 in 2002/03. The research was based on a review of the costs of initial teacher training at 15 higher education institutions chosen to represent a broad range of types of institution and types of provision (primary, secondary, undergraduate and postgraduate).

Pupil Referral Units

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers are teaching in pupil referral units in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each local education authority; and how many have received specific training to teach in such units.

Stephen Twigg: The following table shows the full-time equivalent number of regular teachers in pupil referral units for each Government office region and local education authority in January 2004, the latest information available.
	All teachers with qualified teacher status are trained to teach in pupil referral units.
	
		Full-time equivalent regular teachers in pupil referral units
		
			  Regular qualified teachers Total regular teachers 
		
		
			 Darlington (154)— (154)— 
			 Hartlepool 10 10 
			 Middlesbrough 0 0 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 10 20 
			 Stockton on Tees 10 20 
			 Durham 20 20 
			 Northumberland 10 10 
			 Gateshead 20 20 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 10 10 
			 North Tyneside 10 10 
			 South Tyneside 30 30 
			 Sunderland 20 20 
			 North East 140 160 
			
			 Blackburn with Darwen 20 20 
			 Blackpool 10 10 
			 Halton 0 0 
			 Warrington 10 10 
			 Cheshire 0 0 
			 Cumbria 20 20 
			 Bolton (154)— (154)— 
			 Bury 20 20 
			 Manchester 10 10 
			 Oldham 0 0 
			 Rochdale 30 30 
			 Salford 30 30 
			 Stockport 30 30 
			 Tameside 20 20 
			 Trafford 0 0 
			 Wigan 10 10 
			 Lancashire 60 60 
			 Knowsley 10 10 
			 Liverpool 30 30 
			 St Helens 10 10 
			 Sefton 20 20 
			 Wirral 10 20 
			 North West 360 370 
			
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 10 10 
			 City of Kingston Upon Hull 30 40 
			 North East Lincolnshire 20 20 
			 North Lincolnshire 10 10 
			 York 10 10 
			 North Yorkshire 20 20 
			 Barnsley 0 0 
			 Doncaster 20 20 
			 Rotherham (154)— (154)— 
			 Sheffield 0 0 
			 Bradford 30 30 
			 Calderdale 0 0 
			 Kirklees 10 10 
			 Leeds 20 20 
			 Wakefield 20 20 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 220 230 
			
			 Derby 30 30 
			 Leicester 20 20 
			 Nottingham 30 30 
			 Rutland 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 60 60 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 10 10 
			 Northamptonshire 20 30 
			 Nottinghamshire 50 50 
			 East Midlands 220 220 
			
			 Herefordshire 10 10 
			 Stoke on Trent 10 10 
			 Telford and Wrekin 10 10 
			 Shropshire 0 0 
			 Staffordshire 20 20 
			 Warwickshire 60 60 
			 Birmingham 130 130 
			 Coventry 0 0 
			 Dudley 10 10 
			 Sandwell 30 30 
			 Solihull (154)— (154)— 
			 Walsall 20 20 
			 Wolverhampton 40 40 
			 Worcestershire 50 50 
			 West Midlands 400 400 
			
			 Luton 10 10 
			 Peterborough 10 10 
			 Southend on Sea (154)— 10 
			 Thurrock 10 10 
			 Bedfordshire 20 20 
			 Cambridgeshire 40 80 
			 Essex 40 40 
			 Hertfordshire 70 70 
			 Norfolk 50 50 
			 Suffolk 40 40 
			 East of England 270 330 
			
			 Camden 10 20 
			 City of London 0 0 
			 Hackney 10 20 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 40 40 
			 Haringey 20 20 
			 Islington 20 30 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 20 20 
			 Lambeth 10 20 
			 Lewisham 30 30 
			 Newham 30 30 
			 Southwark 40 40 
			 Tower Hamlets 50 50 
			 Wandsworth 30 30 
			 City of Westminster (154)— (154)— 
			 Barking and Dagenham 10 10 
			 Barnet 10 10 
			 Bexley 20 20 
			 Brent 20 20 
			 Bromley 10 10 
			 Croydon 30 50 
			 Ealing 20 30 
			 Enfield 20 20 
			 Greenwich 20 20 
			 Harrow 0 0 
			 Havering 10 10 
			 Hillingdon (154)— 10 
			 Hounslow 10 10 
			 Kingston upon Thames 10 10 
			 Merton 10 10 
			 Redbridge 10 10 
			 Richmond upon Thames 10 10 
			 Sutton (154)— (154)— 
			 Waltham Forest 10 10 
			 London 550 630 
			
			 Bracknell Forest 10 10 
			 Brighton and Hove 0 0 
			 Isle of Wight (154)— (154)— 
			 Medway 10 10 
			 Milton Keynes (154)— (154)— 
			 Portsmouth 20 30 
			 Reading 0 0 
			 Slough 10 10 
			 Southampton 30 30 
			 West Berkshire 10 10 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 10 10 
			 Wokingham (154)— (154)— 
			 Buckinghamshire 30 30 
			 East Sussex 10 10 
			 Hampshire 70 80 
			 Kent 60 60 
			 Oxfordshire 20 20 
			 Surrey 50 60 
			 West Sussex 10 20 
			 South East 360 400 
			
			 Bath and North East Somerset 0 0 
			 Bournemouth 0 0 
			 City of Bristol 0 0 
			 North Somerset 30 30 
			 Plymouth 20 20 
			 Poole 10 10 
			 South Gloucestershire 20 20 
			 Swindon 20 30 
			 Torbay 10 10 
			 Cornwall 0 0 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 
			 Devon 20 30 
			 Dorset 20 20 
			 Gloucestershire 10 10 
			 Somerset 30 40 
			 Wiltshire 20 20 
			 South West 220 250 
			 England 2,750 2,990 
		
	
	(154) Between 1 and 5
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
	Source:
	Annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies.

SATs Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the grounds on which children can be excused or withdrawn from sitting SATs tests for (a) reading, (b) writing.

Stephen Twigg: The key stage 2 tests assess levels 3 to 5 of the national curriculum. Schools should enter pupils for the tests in English, mathematics and science except where:
	a pupil has been assessed as working at level 2 or below, and will not be working at level 3 by May;
	the school is unable to establish whether a pupil is working at the level of the tests, for example because they have recently arrived in the school and cannot speak English; or
	a pupil is working at the level of the tests but is unable to access them, for example because of a very severe physical disability.
	Details of circumstances in which pupils should not be entered for the key stage 2 tests are set out in section 8 of the "Key Stage 2 Assessment and Reporting Arrangements" booklet, published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, which is issued to schools and is available on the QCA website.

School Attendance

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the data provided by schools to her Department for the last three years regarding attendance.

Stephen Twigg: We are satisfied the pupil absence in schools data published by my Department is accurate. We have processes in place to quality assure and clean the data submitted by each school prior to its provisional publication each September. The data is checked by schools as part of the School and College Achievement and Attainment tables exercise and revised figures are published each December.

School Leavers (City of Durham)

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school leavers in the City of Durham moved on to (a) higher education, (b) further education and (c) employment in each of the last five years.

Stephen Twigg: Information on 18-year-olds entering HE is collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and is available at constituency level. The number of 18-year-olds entering HE from City of Durham constituency from end 1999 to end 2003 is given in Table 1. The numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.
	
		Table 1: The number of 18-year-olds from City of Durham constituency entering HE: 1999 to 2003
		
			 End of calendar year Number of people 
		
		
			 1999 260 
			 2000 240 
			 2001 260 
			 2002 295 
			 2003 305 
		
	
	Estimates of the percentage of young people participating in education and LSC funded work based learning (WBL) are not available below the local education authority (LEA) level. The number of 16-year-olds participating in full-time education, and in education and WBL, in Durham LEA, from end 1997 to end 2001, are shown in Table 2. The numbers have been rounded to the nearest hundred. Estimates for end 2002 and end 2003 (provisional) are due to be published in March 2005.
	
		Table 2: Participation in education and training by 16-year-olds in Durham LEA: 1997 to 2001
		
			 End of calendar year Full-time education Education and LSC funded work based learning (WBL) 
		
		
			 1997 3,800 5,400 
			 1998 3,800 5,200 
			 1999 4,000 5,500 
			 2000 3,900 5,200 
			 2001 4,200 5,500 
		
	
	Information on 16 to 19-year-olds in employment (both full- and part-time) is available at parliamentary constituency level from the Office for National Statistics. Table 3 following shows the numbers and percentages in City of Durham constituency since 2001. However, sample sizes are very small due to the narrow age band and small geographic area. Therefore, the employment rate is volatile and care should be taken when interpreting the figures. The numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand, with the rates calculated from unrounded numbers.
	
		Table 3: The number and the percentage of 16 to 19-year-olds in employment in City of Durham constituency, 2001/02 to 2003/04
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 2001–02 3,000 86.3 
			 2002–03 3,000 49.1 
			 2003–04(155) 1,000 37.8 
		
	
	(155) The employment rate for 2003–04 is based on a sample size of less than 10.

School Toilets

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will extend school premises' regulations to stipulate the (a) suitability, (b) condition and (c) accessibility of pupils' toilets.

Stephen Twigg: The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 are due to be revised within the next year and, subject to consultation, may be extended to place a duty on schools to maintain pupils' toilets in good condition although the regulations do provide for necessary maintenance under the health, safety and welfare paragraph. Accessibility by disabled pupils is already covered by the regulations; suitability is taken into account in design for build, rebuild or refurbishment of premises.

School Toilets

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will introduce legislation governing toilet provision for pupils in schools to bring provisions into line with those governing the adult workplace.

Stephen Twigg: Provision of toilet and wash facilities is covered by the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999. These regulations, which are due to be revised later this year, include a section on Health, Safety and Welfare. Paragraph 17(3) provides that
	"every part of a school building and of the land provided for a school shall be such that the health, safety and welfare of the occupants . . . . . . . . . .. are reasonably assured".
	This paragraph, we believe, should ensure that toilet provision equates with that provided for adults under Health and Safety legislation.

Teachers (Easington)

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers were employed at all schools in Easington constituency in each year since 2001.

Stephen Twigg: The full-time equivalent number of teachers in all maintained schools in Easington constituency is given in the following table:
	
		Maintained nursery, primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units1,2,3,4 Full-time equivalent number of teachers -- Position in January each year: 2001 to 2004Easington parliamentary constituency
		
			  FTE Teachers 
		
		
			 2001 640 
			 2002 650 
			 2003 650 
			 2004 650 
		
	
	(156) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(157) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools.
	(158) Includes teachers with and without qualified teacher status.
	(159) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

Teaching Assistants

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistant posts there were in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Leicester, South in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants and other support staff in Leicester, South constituency is given in the following table:
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools1,2: full-time equivalent number of teaching assistantsJanuary 2004Leicester, South parliamentary constituency
		
			  Primary schools Secondary schools 
		
		
			 1997 90 10 
			 1998 90 10 
			 1999 110 10 
			 2000 100 20 
			 2001 130 20 
			 2002 180 30 
			 2003 210 30 
			 2004 210 30 
		
	
	(160) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(161) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

University Education

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the university drop-out rate was in (a) England and (b) the North East in 2003–04.

Kim Howells: The latest information on non-completion rates was published last September by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in "Performance Indicators in HE", which is available from their website at http://www.hesa.ac.uk/ The figures for HE institutions in the North East and England are shown in the table.
	
		Projected non-completion rates of students on full-time first degree courses
		
			  Percentage 
			  Non-completion rate of those starting courses in 2001/02(162) 
			  Projected(163) Benchmark(164) 
		
		
			 University of Durham 2.3 6.4+ 
			 University of Newcastle 7.0 8.7 
			 Northumbria University 13.9 16.5 
			 University of Sunderland 26.9 18.5- 
			 University of Teeside(165) — — 
			 England 14.1 (166)— 
		
	
	(162) The non-completion rates cover UK domiciled full-time students starting first degree courses who are projected neither to transfer nor achieve an alternative award from their study.
	(163) HESA use a method of projection applied to the cohort of students starting full-time first degree courses in a particular year, based on the assumption that they will move through the system in the same way as current students.
	(164) As well as the projected value, HESA also calculate an expected (benchmark) value for each institution, which allows for the entry qualifications, age and subject mix of the institution's students. Those institutions whose projected non completion rate differs significantly from their benchmark value are highlighted (+ or -) in the table.
	(165) The outcomes for the University of Teesside have been left out because problems with their data this year have adversely affected their figures.
	(166) Benchmarks are not calculated at national level.

University Education

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of those between the ages of 18 and 22 years from the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East is studying at university.

Kim Howells: The recent HEFCE publication "Young participation in higher education" (HEFCE 2005/03) looks at the proportion of young people who enter higher education at age 18 or 19 by parliamentary constituency. A discussion of the participation divisions and trends (18-year-olds in 1994 to 18-year-olds in 2000) for constituencies is contained in the report [sections 2.12, 3.8 and 4.1].
	In addition, participation rates for parliamentary constituencies based on this work are given on the supporting POLAR website (www.hefce.ac.uk/polar). These indicate that, for the cohorts reaching 18 between 1997 and 1999, 28 per cent. of young people living in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency entered higher education at age 18 or 19 (the English average for these cohorts is 29 per cent.).

University Students (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 18 to 22-year-olds from Chorley constituency are studying at university.

Kim Howells: The recent HEFCE publication 'Young participation in higher education1 (HEFCE 2005/03) looks at the proportion of young people who enter higher education at age 18 or 19 by parliamentary constituency. A discussion of the participation divisions and trends (18-year-olds in 1994 to 18-year-olds in 2000) for constituencies is contained in the report [sections 2.12, 3.8 and 4.1].
	In addition, participation rates for parliamentary constituencies based on this work are given on the supporting POLAR website www.hefce.ac.uk/polar. These indicate that, for the cohorts reaching 18 between 1997 and 1999, 34 per cent. of young people living in Chorley constituency entered higher education at age 18 or 19 (the English average for these cohorts is 29 per cent.)

Youth Clubs

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to encourage provision of further youth clubs and other recreational places for young people.

Margaret Hodge: The Department for Education and Skill's Five Year Strategy signalled the intention to consider a new offer for young people. Details will be set out in a Green Paper to be published for consultation shortly.
	Central to this offer is enabling young people to access exciting and enjoyable activities in and out of school or college that enhance their personal, social and educational development and reflect what they do, including sport, outdoor activities and residential opportunities. As part of this work, my Department is looking at the full range of youth facilities, safe places and spaces in which young people can spend their leisure time.

Television Licences

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of households in Northern Ireland which have not paid television licences where such licences should have been paid.

Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.
	The BBC has indicated that the data required to produce accurate estimates is not available for the nations and regions. However, as the hon. Member may be aware, the National Audit Office's 2002 report "The BBC: Collecting the Television Licence Fee" indicated that the estimated evasion rate for Northern Ireland at the end of March 2001 was 17.6 per cent.

Prince of Wales

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Privy Council was consulted on the date for the proposed marriage between His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Camilla Parker-Bowles; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today.

Rape Trials

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will take steps to stop rape trials at Crown courts from being listed as floating trials.

David Lammy: Departmental records show that during 2004 four cases were listed as floaters, but this should be placed in the context of 1,039 cases listed for trial where there was at least one count of rape.
	Court Service policy is that rape cases are listed as fixtures and not as floating trials because of their sensitivity, however, court's listing practices are a matter for local judicial discretion.

Depression

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources are available from the NHS for people suffering from depression.

Rosie Winterton: The national service framework for mental health sets out how people suffering from depression should be able to access a full range of effective national health service treatment and care in and through primary care, and in specialised secondary services, including in-patient care, where appropriate.
	Guidance published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence further elaborates the services that may be needed for people suffering from chronic, treatment-resistant, recurrent, atypical, psychotic depression, and for those at significant risk.
	Further information about the financial, service-related and workforce resources currently available nationally may be found in the "National Service Framework for Mental Health—Five Years On", published in December 2004. Information about the resources and services in any one locality may be obtained from the relevant primary care trust.

Diabetes

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the NHS in a year of treating (a) diabetes, (b) diabetes type 1 and (c) diabetes type 2.

Stephen Ladyman: The recent report by Wanless, "Securing good health for the whole population: Final report—February 2004" states that the total cost to the national health service of treating type one and type two diabetes is £1.3 billion per year. The specific costs relating to treatment of type one and type two are not available.

Digital Hearing Aids

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Leicester, south are on waiting lists for digital hearing aids.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally.

Eating Disorders

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of outreach workers on the rates of re-admission for in-patient care by people with serious eating disorders living in the community.

Rosie Winterton: Assertive outreach has been shown to be an effective approach to the management of people with severe mental health problems with complex needs who have difficulty engaging with services and often require repeat admission to hospital. Using an assertive outreach approach can:
	Improve engagement.
	Reduce hospital admissions.
	Reduce length of stay when hospitalisation is required.
	Increase stability in the lives of service users and their carers/family.
	Improve social functioning.
	Be cost effective.
	Assertive outreach teams work with people with severe and persistent mental disorders, which may include serious eating disorders. However, the Department does not collect diagnostic information centrally about case loads of such teams.
	The evidence base for assertive outreach was set out in the "Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide" (2001).

Elective Surgery

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned into the information on which patients would want to base their choices for elective surgery; and what steps he is taking to provide this information (a) through primary care trusts, (b) through strategic health authorities and (c) centrally.

John Hutton: The Department has commissioned research through MORI and Dr. Foster and consulted with patients and clinicians through a number of workshops to identify the information that patients would want to make a choice of hospital. We have also drawn on a number of independent studies including those looking at the information and support needs of hard-to-reach groups.
	We know from this body of research that patients require information on four key areas: waiting times, location and convenience factors, patient experience and clinical quality. The Department provides comparative information for national health service providers in these four key areas on its website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/PatientChoice/Choice/ChoiceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT ID=4084336 &chk=j6/TOq
	It has also asked primary care trusts to supplement this with local information on providers to further support patients.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on pollution-related diseases in the framework of the action plan for public health met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The committee for the implementation of the community action programme on pollution related diseases did not meet during the Italian, Irish or Dutch presidencies.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on health promotion information, education and training met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The community action programme on health promotion, information, education and training ran from 1996 to 2002. The last meeting of the programme committee was held on 7 February 2002 in Luxembourg, prior to the commencement of the Italian, Irish and Dutch European Union presidencies, which fell within the period from July 2003 to December 2004.

GP Surgeries

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average proportion of patients to general practitioner is in each primary care trust in (a) Somerset, (b) Devon, (c) Dorset and (d) North Somerset.

Rosie Winterton: The average number of patients per general practitioner for each primary care trust (PCT) in Somerset, Devon, Dorset and North Somerset is shown in the table.
	
		Average list size of unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)(168) for specified PCTs Number (headcount)
		
			  PCT UPEs Patients of UPEs Average list size 
		
		
			 5CE Bournemouth 106 170,436 1,608 
			 5 FT East Devon 78 115,844 1,485 
			 5FR Exeter 85 131,297 1,545 
			 5FX Mendip 61 110,276 1,808 
			 5FV Mid Devon 75 105,718 1,410 
			 5FQ North Devon 113 156,543 1,385 
			 5CD North Dorset 66 91,061 1,380 
			 5F1 Plymouth 159 260,369 1,638 
			 5KV Poole 109 172,143 1,579 
			 5FW Somerset Coast 92 143,437 1,559 
			 5FN South and East Dorset 105 152,625 1,454 
			 5CV South Hams and West Devon 72 104,468 1,451 
			 5K1 South Somerset 99 150,087 1,516 
			 5FP South West Dorset 97 140,690 1,450 
			 5K2 Taunton Deane 74 106,809 1,443 
			 5FY Teignbridge 68 108,439 1,595 
			 5CW Torbay 89 142,209 1,598 
		
	
	(168) UPEs include general medical service unrestricted principals, personal medical service contracted general practitioners and personal medical service salaried general practitioners. Patient data has been revised from previously published figures.
	Note:
	Data as at 30 September 2003.
	Source:
	Department of Health general and personal medical services statistics.

GP Surgeries

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there are in each primary care trust in (a) Somerset, (b) Devon, (c) Dorset and (d) North Somerset.

Rosie Winterton: The number of general practitioners in these areas are shown in the table.
	
		All practitioners (excluding retainers, registrars and locums)1 for specified organisations as at 30 September 2003 Numbers (headcount)
		
			  
		
		
			 5CE Bournemouth PCT 107 
			 5 FT East Devon PCT 79 
			 5FR Exeter PCT 86 
			 5FX Mendip PCT 75 
			 5FV Mid Devon PCT 77 
			 5FQ North Devon PCT 114 
			 5CD North Dorset PCT 69 
			 5KV Poole PCT 109 
			 5FW Somerset Coast PCT 102 
			 5FN South and East Dorset PCT 107 
			 5CV South Hams and West Devon PCT 72 
			 5K1 South Somerset PCT 103 
			 5FP South West Dorset PCT 97 
			 5K2 Taunton Deane PCT 75 
		
	
	(169) All practitioners (excluding retainers, registrars and locums) includes general medical service (GMS) unrestricted principals, personal medical service (PMS) contracted general practitioners, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, salaried doctors, PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	Source:
	Department of Health GMS and PMS statistics.

Health Expenditure (Leicester)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the health expenditure per head of population in Leicester, South constituency has been in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: It is not possible to provide expenditure figures for the Leicester, South constituency, as this does not correspond to any specific health authority (HA) area. The information shown in the table is from the relevant HA areas from 1996–97 to 2003–04, which is the latest year for which figures are available.
	
		Expenditure per weighted head of population in the relevant HA areas £ per head
		
			  Leicestershire HA area Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Strategic Health Authority area 
		
		
			 1996–97 635.71 n/a 
			 1997–98 617.54 n/a 
			 1998–99 654.02 n/a 
			 1999–2000 762.80 n/a 
			 2000–01 779.71 n/a 
			 2001–02 821.16 n/a 
			 2002–03 n/a 951.51 
			 2003–04 n/a 1,082.64 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure is taken from audited health authority summarisation forms and primary care trust summarisation schedules, which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The expenditure is the total expenditure by the relevant HAs, and the commissioner costs of the primary care trusts (PCTs). Figures are given in cash terms.
	2. Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measure to identify differences between funding of HAs and PCTs.
	3. Figures for 1996–97 to 2001–02 have been prepared using gross expenditure figures. This is to ensure consistency between years. Figures based on strategic health authority (SHA) areas have been adjusted to eliminate expenditure, which would be double counted where an authority acts as a lead in commissioning healthcare or other services.
	4. In many HAs, there are factors, which distort the expenditure. These include:
	the health authority acting in a lead capacity to commission healthcare or fund training on behalf of other health bodies; and
	asset revaluations in national health service trusts being funded through health authorities or primary care trusts.
	5. The majority of general dental services expenditure is not included in the individual health authority accounts or primary care trust summarisation schedules and is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board. An element of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority and not by health authorities or primary care trusts. Total expenditure on these items by the Dental Practice Board and the Prescription Pricing Authority cannot be allocated to individual health bodies. For these reasons, expenditure per head cannot be compared reliably between health authorities or between different years.
	6. Expenditure on general dental services and pharmaceutical services accounted for by the Dental Practice Board and Prescription Pricing Authority, respectively, are excluded. This expenditure cannot be included within the figures for the individual health bodies as they are not included in commissioner accounts.
	Sources:
	HA audited accounts 1996–97 and 1997–98.
	HA audited summarisation forms 1998–99 to 2001–02.
	SHA audited summarisation forms 2002–03 and 2003–04.
	PCT audited summarisation schedules 2000–01 to 2003–04.
	Weighted population figures 1996–97 to 2003–04.

Health Promotion

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been put in place by the Government to tackle (a) cardiovascular disease and (b) diabetes in the South Asian population in England.

Rosie Winterton: Both the national service framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease (CHD) and the national service framework for diabetes have set out modern standards and service models for the national health service for the prevention and treatment of these conditions. Both frameworks highlight the need to pay close attention to the needs of groups, which are particularly vulnerable to CHD and diabetes including South Asians.
	To support this work, the Department produced a best practice guide for providing CHD services to South Asians last year. The guide includes a chapter on diabetes, which describes the NSF and provides some case studies of good practice. The guide aims to support service providers, including strategic health authorities (SHAs), primary care trusts (PCTs), hospitals and other organisations working with South Asian communities to deliver heart disease services to South Asian people.
	The toolkit is entitled, Heart Disease and South Asians, and was published by the South Asian Health Foundation in conjunction with the Department and the British Heart Foundation. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	In addition, the United Kingdom National Screening Committee (NSC) has been asked to advise the Department by the end of 2005 on policy for screening for Type 2 diabetes. The NSC will advise on whether general population screening for diabetes is necessary, or alternatively that screening should be offered to specific sub-groups of the population who are at high risk for diabetes, such as some ethnic minority groups.

Mixed Sex Wards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) wards, (b) medical assessment units and (c) surgical assessment units in NHS hospitals in England are operated on a mixed sex basis.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The provision of single-sex accommodation is measured as compliance with three objectives we have set, requiring national health service trusts to provide single-sex sleeping areas, separate bathroom and toilet facilities for men and women, and where appropriate, safe facilities for the mentally ill.
	Compliance is measured annually at trust level, and information at ward level is therefore not available. Nationally, 97 per cent., of NHS trusts are fully compliant with our standards.
	We do not collect information on compliance in specialised areas of a hospital such as medical or surgical assessment units, where the need to provide urgent treatment may take precedence over the strict separation of men and women. No area of a hospital is exempt from the need to protect the privacy and dignity of patients, but no hospital will turn a patient away because a bed is not available in an area appropriate to that patient's gender.

Healthy Living

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister about future funding for healthy living centres and healthy lifestyles workers.

Melanie Johnson: I have had no discussions with my right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister, about future funding for healthy living centres or healthy lifestyles workers.

Learning Disabilities

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many village and intentional communities have been established for people with learning disabilities since the publication of his Department's White Paper, "Valuing People", (2001) and its statutory guidance.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not held centrally.

Paediatric and Congenital Services Report

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the recommendations of the paediatric and congenital services report;
	(2)  when he plans to implement the recommendations of the paediatric and congenital services report.

Stephen Ladyman: I understand the questions relate to the report of the paediatric and congenital cardiac services review group, which considered health care services and treatment for children with congenital heart disease in the light of the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry. The group reported that all paediatric cardiac centres were providing high standards of care for children and made a number of recommendations to preserve these standards. This report and the Government's response was published in December 2003 and a copy is available in the Library.
	The Government accepted and commended these recommendations to national health service primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and the Healthcare Commission, apart from one recommendation, the effect of which would have been to immediately close centres providing a high level of service, but which were carrying out less than a minimum of 300 operations per year. There was no evidence within the report to support this measure, nor has there been any since. Responsibility for commissioning national clinical audit of paediatric cardiac surgery and congenital heart disease transferred to the Healthcare Commission, previously the Commission Healthcare Audit and Inspection in April 2003.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will allocate more funding to the NHS to allow preventative treatment for respiratory syncytial virus in premature babies;
	(2)  how many premature babies contracted respiratory syncytial virus in hospital in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003.

Stephen Ladyman: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health recently announced an allocation of £135 billion to national health service primary care trusts for the next two financial years. Among other objectives, this will assist primary care trusts to invest more funding in preventative treatments including appropriate prophylactic treatment for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
	Infants born preterm are at especially high risk of the consequences of RSV because they may have lungs that were damaged as a result of their pre-maturity. For that reason, they feature high on the list of children who should be considered for prophylactic therapy.
	The information requested on numbers of premature babies who contracted RSV in hospital is not collected centrally.

Smoking Cessation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the use of psychotherapy in smoking cessation programmes.

Melanie Johnson: A systematic review of the evidence on the effectiveness of smoking cessation approaches, including individual counselling has been undertaken by the Cochrane review. Lancaster T., Stead, L. F. Individual behavioural counselling for smoking cessation. "The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews" 2002, (3), a copy of which is available in the Library.

Smoking Cessation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether officials from his Department have met representatives of the Allen Carr Easyway to Stop Smoking organisation;
	(2)  what recent representations he has received on smoking cessation techniques.

Melanie Johnson: Officials from the Department have not met representatives of the "Allen Carr Easyway to Stop Smoking" organisation. However, officials have corresponded with the organisation.
	The Department regularly receives approaches about smoking cessation techniques and recognises that there are a number of methods that may help smokers to quit. The national policy focus is on those methods with accumulated independent evidence of efficacy. The Department, following guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, endorsed the use on the national health service of nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion (Zyban) as effective stop smoking aids. Used in conjunction with trained support through the NHS stop smoking service, smokers are up to four times more likely to quit successfully than using willpower alone.

Vacancy Statistics

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the three-month vacancy (a) rates and (b) numbers were for (i) midwives, (ii) nurses, (iii) GPs, (iv) district nurses, (v) health visitors, (vi) physiotherapists, (vii) occupational therapists, (viii) speech and language therapists and (ix) consultants, by specialty for (A) England, (B) Strategic Health Authority, (C) each NHS trust and foundation trust and (D) each primary care trust in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The Department's annual vacancy survey, which collects medical and non-medical data, started in 1999.
	Information on the three-month vacancy rate and number of qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, midwives, district nurses, health visitors, occupied therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists by health authority from 1999 to 2001 and by strategic health authority (SHA) from 2002 to 2004 has been placed in the Library.
	Information on the three-month vacancy rates and vacancy number for consultants in England broken down by speciality group and by SHA from 2002 to 2004 has also been placed in the Library. Prior to 2002, the medical and dental work force data was collected on a different basis with regard to speciality and therefore is not available in a comparable format.
	The Department could provide information by national health service trust or by speciality only at a disproportionate cost.
	The Department's annual general practitioner (GP) recruitment and retention vacancy survey started in 2000 and began collecting information at primary care trust (PCT) level for the first time in 2003. The survey takes place between 1 April and 31 March each year and is a count of all GP vacancies that have occurred during each year. It will include existing posts that doctors have left and also new posts created to increase the work force, even where they were filled very quickly.
	Information on the number of GP vacancies in England broken down by SHA in each year from 2000 to 2004 and by PCT from 2003 to 2004 has been placed in the Library.
	The estimated three-month GP vacancy rate for England from 2002 to 2004 has been placed in the Library. It is not possible to produce reliable estimates of the vacancy rate for GPs at SHA or PCT level. Estimated three-month vacancy rates are not available before 2002.

Affordable Housing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how and where he plans for houses to be constructed for a selling price of £60,000.

Keith Hill: Homes for All the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Five-Year Plan, launched on 24 January 2005, stated that a "Design for Manufacture" competition would invite organisations to bid for the right to construct one or more new developments on sites owned by English Partnerships.
	The competition will provide up to 1,000 homes. A minimum of 30 per cent. of the housing dwellings within the competition will be built to a target cost of £60,000 and the remainder will be larger or smaller dwellings that should be built at an equivalent cost-efficiency.
	English Partnerships are currently identifying the sites for the competition. These will be in the south-east of England. A formal prior information notice will shortly be placed in the Official Journal of the European Union, and advertised in the media.

Business Rates

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to change business rates for those who generate electricity using green methods.

Nick Raynsford: There are no present plans to do so. Any specific rate relief scheme would require primary legislation and the costs and benefits would have to be fully appraised. Through the Renewals Obligation, the Government already provides a very significant level of support for renewable energy generation; this is expected to reach £l billion per year by 2010. Government will also be providing approximately £500 million of support for renewables in the form of research and development and capital grants between 2002 and 2008. In addition, good quality Combined Heat and Power generators already have certain plant and machinery excluded from the rating valuation.

Exchange Flags

Louise Ellman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made in re-investing in Liverpool the sum re-paid by the Walton Group in respect of Exchange Flags, as promised by his Department on 4 April 2003.

Yvette Cooper: English Partnerships (EP), the Government's national regeneration agency, is currently working on a number of schemes in Liverpool including one to significantly enhance the Lime Street Gateway. This will include new public space, improved accessibility and potentially a new landmark building. English Partnerships will seek to allocate the Exchange Buildings windfall to a scheme including environmental improvements, in line with the intention behind the original grant. One option is the proposed investment in the Lime scheme where EP is working with Liverpool Vision, Liverpool city council, Network Rail, Merseytravel and the private sector.
	Detailed design work and financial analysis is ongoing with a view to obtaining the necessary approvals for this scheme by the summer.

Fire Deaths (Leicester)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire-related deaths in dwellings in Leicester South there were in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: This information is not published at constituency level. Fire statistics are compiled by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for each fire and rescue authority. In this case, Leicester South's fires and casualties are reported as part of the Leicestershire total.
	Figures supplied by the Leicestershire fire and rescue service are tabled as follows:
	
		Fire related deaths in dwellings: Leicester South constituency, 1997 to date
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 1 
			 1998 2 
			 1999 2 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 1 
			 2003 1 
			 2004 1 
			 2005 (to date) 0

Fire Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice he has given to fire and rescue authorities regarding retention of skilled fire control staff in the period up to the introduction of regional fire control centres in 2007–08.

Nick Raynsford: Fire and Rescue Authorities are the employers of control staff and are best placed to understand what is required to retain them. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has provided draft guidance to the Employers' Organisation, which they may wish to use. It has also indicated a willingness to fund sensible retention programmes devised by local Fire and Rescue Authorities taking into account the proximity of the location of existing controls to the RCC, the local employment market and other local conditions, and provided for the first element of those costs in 2005–06 under "new burdens" principles.

Housing

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will ask the Housing Corporation to issue updated guidance on the use of ground 8, schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988 following Lord Justice Dyson's concluding remarks in the case of North British Housing Association v. Snaith.

Keith Hill: The regulatory circular "Tenancy Management: Eligibility and Evictions" issued by the Housing Corporation in July 2004 contains clear guidance about the corporation's expectations of registered social landlords (RSLs) (more commonly known as housing associations) in dealing with eviction and in particular housing benefit. The guidance states
	'Possession proceedings for rent arrears should not be started against a tenant who can demonstrate that they have (1) a reasonable expectation of eligibility for housing benefit; (2) provided the local authority with all the evidence required to process a housing benefit claim; (3) paid required personal contributions towards the charges. Associations should make every effort to establish effective ongoing liaison with housing benefit departments and to make direct contact with them before taking enforcement action. A certificate should be obtained, if possible, to confirm that there are no outstanding benefit enquires, according to Department of Work and Pensions good practice guidance'.
	The Housing Corporation expects RSLs as a matter of course to make continued contact with local authority housing benefit departments before and during enforcement action. It is in an RSL's interest to collect the rent that is owed to it.
	The Civil Justice Council is working with the Department of Constitutional Affairs to issue a pre-action protocol for possessions cases. If introduced, then it would require social landlords to have carried out all the actions contained within before a court will hear a possessions case. In addition the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is leading on a cross-Whitehall group on possessions and evictions which includes the Housing Corporation. We are clear that possession should be a last resort and intend to issue good practice guidance later this year which will set out the steps we would expect landlords to take in order to avoid possession action wherever possible.

Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless families there were in each Greater London borough in each of the last seven years.

Keith Hill: Local authorities report their activities under homelessness legislation quarterly. Information on the number of households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need during the quarter and the number of these that contain dependent children, together with the number of homeless households in temporary accommodation as on the last day of the quarter and how many of these contain dependent children, as reported by the London boroughs for the past seven years has been placed in the Library of the House.
	After being accepted as homeless, a household will be placed in some form of accommodation. They may be placed in temporary accommodation, until a settled solution becomes available, or they may be given a settled solution straight away depending on the accommodation available to the local authority. As an alternative to temporary accommodation an authority may arrange for a household to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.
	Quarterly Statistical Releases on statutory homelessness published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister include information on acceptances, and households in temporary accommodation, at local authority level in an associated Supplementary Table. The latest Release of, 13 December, and previous editions are available both in the Library of the House and via the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website.

Housing

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many rough sleepers there were in Crosby in each year since 1997.

Keith Hill: The number of rough sleepers, within each local authority in England, have been collected by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister since 1998. Figures for Sefton MBC, which includes Crosby, are tabled as follows:
	
		Rough sleepers for Sefton MBC
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998 21 
			 1999 21 
			 2000 17 
			 2001 5 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 0 
		
	
	Source:
	ODPM Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (annual)

Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what help his Department gives to those people who need rented housing when the relevant council lists are very long and the relevant housing associations have closed lists.

Keith Hill: In England housing authorities are responsible for setting their own allocation policies and procedures. However, they must ensure that their allocation scheme is framed so as to give reasonable preference to certain categories of persons. The categories are set out in s167 (2) of the Housing Act 1996 and are designed to ensure that priority for the allocation of social housing is given to those in the greatest housing need.
	The Government recognise, however, that in some areas of the country there is a great demand for social housing resulting in long waiting lists; to alleviate this we have secured funding in the Spending Review 2004 which will, along with efficiency improvements, produce 75,000 new social homes for rent by 2008.
	"Homes for All" sets out the Government's agenda to increase choice and opportunity for tenants. It makes clear that the Government are keen to encourage the extension of choice based lettings to cover low cost home ownership options and properties for rent from private landlords, as well as social housing.
	The Government believe that the private rented sector is an important resource in meeting housing need. "Homes for All" states that the Government will improve access to the private rented sector for households who might otherwise face homelessness, through schemes that provide rent deposits, guarantees or rent in advance, or which offer approved lettings with accredited private landlords.
	"Homes for All" also outlines our plans to help 80 000 people get a foot on the property ladder, through our First Time Buyers Initiative and other low cost homeownership schemes.

Housing Standards

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will adopt the EcoHomes very good standard within his proposed sustainable building code.

Phil Hope: The Senior Steering Group overseeing the development of the Code for Sustainable Buildings will consider how best to build upon all relevant existing assessment methods, including EcoHomes and its "very good" standard.

Housing Standards

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what target he has set for new Government-funded housing to meet the EcoHomes very good standard.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to increasing the standard to which all publicly funded housing is built. As of April 2003 all new built homes funded by the Housing Corporation are required to achieve a British Research Establishment (BRE) EcoHomes rating of "Pass" as a minimum essential condition of grant and Registered Social Landlords are encouraged to aim for "Good". The Housing Corporation intends to increase the minimum requirement to a 'Good' rating from April 2005 with Registered Social Landlords Associations encouraged to aim for the higher 'Very Good' rating from the same date.
	English Partnerships requires that all its developments must achieve a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rating of "Very Good" or better on their mainstream site disposals. This includes residential developments. The Millennium Communities programme, a specific initiative being taken forward by English Partnerships, is working towards the 'Excellent' target

Housing Standards

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what environmental standards he intends to incorporate into the Thames Gateway development.

Keith Hill: In the Thames Gateway, as elsewhere, the Government are committed to the construction of sustainable homes that minimise the impact on climate change.
	Building Regulations set minimum environmental standards for new buildings. The 2002 revision of Building Regulations sets performance standards that mean new dwellings will be around 25 per cent. more energy efficient than before. The Government are currently carrying out a further review of Part L of Building Regulations and new standards will come into effect by the end of 2005.
	The Government are committed to raising the environmental standards to which publicly funded housing is built. All new homes funded by the Housing Corporation, including those in the Thames Gateway, will be required to achieve a BRE EcoHomes "Good" rating from April 2005.
	The Government are developing a new Code for Sustainable Buildings to establish higher standards for energy and water efficiency, waste and use of materials than the minimum standards in Building Regulations. This will be taken forward in demonstration schemes in the Thames Gateway before being rolled out nationally.

Key Worker Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his plans for developing homes for key workers on public sector land will include greenfield or green belt development; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Proposals for key worker homes will be subject to planning policies and procedures in the normal way. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's planning policies for housing set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: "Housing" gives priority to re-using suitable brownfield land in preference to the development of greenfield. The Government does not rule out sustainable greenfield development if it is necessary to meet a justified housing need. Planning policies for the Green Belt set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2: "Green Belts", which include the general presumption against inappropriate development in the Green Belt, will also apply in any case where development on Green Belt land is proposed.
	Much of the surplus public sector land that has been identified for affordable housing by the Government is brownfield.

Local Government

Howard Flight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what measures his Department uses to assess the (a) cost effectiveness and (b) efficiency of local authority call centres in terms of local service delivery;
	(2)  what the total Government investment into local authority call centres has been; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of local authority call centres on the improvement of local service delivery; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the effect of local authority call centres on local service delivery costs; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not made any specific investments in or appraisals of local authority call centres. Many individual local authorities will, however, have invested their own resources in developing call centres where these demonstrate an effective way of meeting local priorities. This development will often have been supplemented with funds provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to support their overall e-government development programme. Local authorities recognise the contribution effective initial contact can make to efficient service delivery.

Local Government Finance

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what population statistics he relied upon in setting the revenue support grant for Stafford borough council for 2005–06; and what representations he has received about the accuracy of those statistics.

Nick Raynsford: The 2005–06 Revenue Support Grant was calculated using the 2003 mid-year population estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). During the consultation period, representations were received from 17 local authorities plus the Association on London Government (ALG) commenting on the accuracy of the population estimates.

Northern Way

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to section C9 of Moving Forward: The Northern Way, First Growth Strategy Report, if he will list (a) the total number of houses proposed for demolition in each local authority area and (b) the streets where demolition s proposed.

Keith Hill: The Northern Way is an independently chaired, Regional Development Agency-led initiative. Moving Forward: The Northern Way First Growth Strategy Report is a publication of its steering group. The report makes no proposals for the demolition of houses.
	It is an essential pillar of the strategy that people living in the north, and the people the Northern Way Steering Group want to attract to the north, have real quality and diversity in housing that not only accommodates their needs when starting out but also provides real choice when they begin to prosper and their families grow.
	The Northern Way Steering Group have made it clear that any proposals will be taken forward by working with the Regional Housing Boards and through the Regional Spatial Strategies, which are subject to formal consultation processes with stakeholders, at which heritage and conservation issues can be fully explored.

Policy Initiatives

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) reports, (b) strategies, (c) five-year plans and (d) 10 year plans he has launched in his role as Deputy Prime Minister or Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions have published reports, strategies and plans reflecting the wide range of their responsibilities. Most recently this has included two five year plans: "Sustainable Communities: Homes for All" and "Sustainable Communities: People, Places and Prosperity". Together these plans show how the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will take forward its agenda of creating Sustainable communities, first described in the 2003 "Sustainable Communities Plan". A full list of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's publications is available on its website at http://www.publications.odpm.gov.uk/.

Queen's Flight

Chris Grayling: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  on how many occasions his Department's Ministers used the Queen's Flight in each of the past five years;
	(2)  how much money his Department has spent on chartering aircraft in each of the past five years.

Yvette Cooper: Travel by Ministers makes clear that special flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air, but the requirements of official or parliamentary business or security considerations or urgency preclude the journey being made by a scheduled service. In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government has published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list published in 1999 covers the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Where RAF/Private Charter aircraft are used this is shown in the list. The Government has also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2004–05 will be published in due course.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Regional Referendums

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 3 February 2005, Official Report, column 1087W on regional referendums, if he will place in the Library copies of the research undertaken on (a) the Your Say Information Campaign and (b) other groups' campaigns relating to the regional referendum in the north-east.

Nick Raynsford: Copies of the research conducted on the Your Say Information Campaign have been made available in the Library of the House This research was conducted by NOP World and was designed to measure the effect of the information campaign in raising awareness of the referendums.
	Six quantative studies were undertaken between October 2003 and September 2004. These studies were undertaken in all three northern regions, with the exception of the last study, which was only undertaken in the north-east. In addition, a qualitative study was undertaken in October 2003 and June 2004 in all three regions.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold any research relating to any other groups' campaigns.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list the occasions between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 when special advisers attended meetings with external representatives at which ministers were not present;
	(2)  if he will list the speeches his special advisers made in an official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004, broken down by date.

Yvette Cooper: Special advisers attend meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. Information relating to these meetings could be provided only at disproportionate cost. One special adviser has made various speeches on the role of the special adviser at civil service training events.
	All meetings held by special advisers and all speeches given by special advisers are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers."

Stationery

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Office and its predecessors spent on (a) stationery and (b) office supplies in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed in May 2002 and figures for previous years are unavailable. The spend shown does not include figures from the Government Offices. The available spend information is tabled as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			  Stationery Office supplies 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,438,559.68 275,434.26 
			 2003–04 1,482,321.29 163,885.46 
			 2004–05 (to date) 688,071.88 154,419.16

Supporting People Grant

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons funding for the Supporting People programme in North Yorkshire is to be reduced by 40 per cent. from the 2003–04 level; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that quality of care received by people in North Yorkshire in not adversely affected.

Yvette Cooper: The Government commissioned an Independent Review into the Supporting People programme following significant late growth in estimated costs from £1.4 billion in December 2002 to £1.8 billion by March 2003. The review reported in January 2004 that there are wide variations in unit costs between authorities and that £1.8 billion was too much to pay for the services provided.
	Reductions in Supporting People programme grant reflect the findings of the Independent Review and subsequent work carried out on value for money including work commissioned into the efficient use of legacy funding and the results of Audit Commission inspections. These studies demonstrate that there is significant potential for making savings in the current pattern of service provision whilst safeguarding valuable services.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has taken no decisions about the longer term distribution. A formula for the distribution of Supporting People funding in the longer term is being developed. We are working with local authority representative bodies and will consult widely on a revised version later this year. The extent of the increases or reductions and the rate of which they are introduced are open to further consideration. We will include this issue in the consultation.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will monitor the impact on administering authorities of introducing any new needs based distribution formula.

Timber

Sue Doughty: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he will take to ensure that environmentally sustainable building materials, with particular reference to sustainable timber, are used in the construction of proposed new homes in London and the South East as outlined in the report, Sustainable Communities: Homes for All.

Phil Hope: The Government are committed to raising the environmental standards to which publicly funded housing is built. All new homes funded by the Housing Corporation will be required to achieve a BRE EcoHomes "Good" rating from April 2005. Those delivered by English Partnerships must reach a "Very Good" standard.
	We are also committed to delivering new homes in London and the South East, as set out in Homes For All to high environmental and sustainability standards. We will achieve this both through raising building standards and also through the Code for Sustainable Buildings, which will be piloted in the Thames Gateway. In particular, the Code will specify a minimum percentage of timber to be acquired from sources that are independently verified as either legal and sustainable or reclaimed..
	In addition, in pursuant of its objective to establish a Central Point of Expertise on Timber Procurement, Department for Environment, Food and rural Affairs aims to establish in 2005 an inquiry point that will help local authorities and other stakeholders to procure legal and sustainable timber.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the future of democracy in Burma.

Douglas Alexander: It is essential that the National Convention to draw up a new constitution which reconvened on 17 February is an inclusive and transparent process, involving all political parties and ethnic groups in Burma, Without their participation, the process lacks all credibility and the prospects for democracy in Burma will be bleak.
	We remain willing to support a genuine process of national reconciliation leading to the restoration of democracy and full respect for human rights in Burma and we will respond positively to tangible progress.

Departmental Costs

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money his Department has spent on chartering aircraft in each of the past five years.

Jack Straw: The guidance note "Travel by Ministers", makes clear that special flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air but the requirements of official or parliamentary business or security considerations or urgency preclude the journey being made by a scheduled service. In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list published in 1999 covers the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Where RAF/private charter aircraft are used this is shown in the list. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Library of the House. Information for 2004–05 will be published in due course.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and the guidance on Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 13W, on EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service, if he will list those documents, with security grading and caveat, that have been supplied to the EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service by his Department; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the nature of departmental material that may be supplied.

Denis MacShane: There is no "EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service". The EU's Joint Situation Centre does not share or co-ordinate intelligence. The Situation Centre produces analyses and risk assessments, to help formulate EU policy, based on inputs from member states including nationally-assessed material. The Government's policy on release of material was set out in my answer of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 13W: UK information is released to the Situation Centre on a strict need-to-know basis at classifications up to and including secret.
	It would not be appropriate for the Government to give details of the information which has been released to the centre. Parallel exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act would likely be section 23 (information supplied by, or related to, bodies dealing with security matters), section 24 (national security) and section 27 (international relations).

Iraq

Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the total Iraqi adult population is estimated to have voted in the recent election.

Bill Rammell: There has been no recent, reliable population census in Iraq. In preparation for the January elections, around 14 million adult Iraqis were included in a passive registration conducted by the Public Distribution System using Oil for Food Programme records. The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq announced the provisional final election results on 13 February and said that 8.45 million people voted on 30 January, 58 per cent. of the registered voters.

Iraq

Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the official estimate is of the percentage of registered voters who voted in the recent election in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq announced the provisional final election results on 13 February and said that 8.45 million people voted on 30 January, 58 per cent. of the registered voters.

Staff Identity Passes

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of producing a staff identity pass was in the Department on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many staff identity passes have been reported lost or stolen in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff identity passes are authorised using a computer based system which was purchased and installed in 2002. The computer is linked to three FCO sites, the FCO Main Building, Old Admiralty Building and Hanslope Park. The identity pass comprises a digital photograph and a unique computer chip. There are currently nearly 12,000 active identity pass holders. 110 identity passes are issued weekly.
	The full cost of producing and issuing an FCO staff identity pass, including staff costs, is £3.36 each.
	Breakdown of FCO identity passes lost or stolen since 1997 based on our existing records is as follows:
	
		
			  Stolen Lost Total 
		
		
			 1997 0 l 1 
			 1998 2 23 25 
			 1999 8 48 56 
			 2000 7 46 53 
			 2001 16 58 74 
			 2002 10 37 47 
			 2003 13 24 37 
			 2004 10 41 51 
			 2005 (As at 4 February 2005) 1 12 13

Debt Relief

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answers of 3 February 2005, Official Report, columns 1044–45W, on debt relief and 1049–50W on Tanzania, what additional debt relief is being provided by the UK under the Chancellor of the Exchequer's recently announced debt initiative; and if he will list (a) each recipient country and (b) the sum each is due to receive in each year up to 2015.

Hilary Benn: Under the new multilateral debt relief initiative, the UK will pay 10 per cent. of the debt service owed to the International Development Association (IDA) and African Development Fund (AfDF) on behalf the world's poorest countries. This initiative will be funded through the additional resources allocated to DFID in the recent Spending Review, and is additional to the UK's commitments to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative.
	All low-income countries with a demonstrated commitment to poverty reduction are potentially eligible. These countries are those that have reached Completion Point under the HIPC Initiative, and all other IDA-only (i.e. eligible to borrow only from the most concessional lending arm of the World Bank) low-income countries (LICs) that have a Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC) approved by the World Bank. Sri Lanka has also been added in light of the impact of the South East Asia tsunami.
	The list of currently eligible countries comprises 15 post-Completion Point HIPCs, 4 IDA-only LICs with PRSCs, and Sri Lanka. The cost to the UK for these countries through to 2015 is estimated at up to around US $870 million. As more countries progress through the HIPC Initiative, or have PRSCs approved, the list of eligible countries will expand. The cost to the UK through to 2015 for all countries that could potentially qualify for this initiative is estimated at around US $1,931 million. A table listing the UK's share of (estimated) annual debt service to IDA and AfDF for each country in each year up to 2015 has been placed in the Library under the title "UK's Annual Debt Service to IDA and AfDF to 2015".

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the costs of cleaning the Department were in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The Department For International Development (DFID) has spent the following sums on cleaning its offices since 1997:
	
		
			   £ 
			  Cost Cost per square foot 
		
		
			 1997–98 185,971 0.65 
			 1998–99 169,170 0.68 
			 1999–2000 185,055 0.74 
			 2000–01 193,888 0.78 
			 2001–02 165,807 0.82 
			 2002–03 286,933 0.96 
			 2003–04 351,331 1.17 
			 2004–05 (to date) 267,380 n/a 
		
	
	The increase in overall costs from 2002–03 financial year is largely attributable to the Department's expansion in the amount of space occupied, as can be seen from the much smaller increase in cost per square foot.

Development Assistance

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries he expects will cease to receive development assistance from the UK in each of the next five years.

Hilary Benn: On current plans, we expect that the following countries will cease to receive development assistance directly from the British Government over the next five years:
	2005: Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kazakhstan.
	2006: None
	2007: None
	2008: East Timor
	2009: None
	These countries will however continue to receive development assistance from the EC, other multilateral development organisations and/or British non-governmental organisations to which DFID makes substantial contributions.

Disaster Planning

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what resources his Department plans to allocate to improve counter-disaster measures in the developing world;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the representatives of developing countries on (a) preparing for and (b) improving their response to natural disasters;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the views of the UN head of humanitarian affairs on disaster prevention and preparedness;
	(4)  if he will increase funding for disaster reduction.

Hilary Benn: DFID is already funding significant disaster risk reduction programmes in countries particularly susceptible to natural disasters, including India where we are providing over £60 million on disaster preparedness and reconstruction in Orissa over six years. DFID is the leading donor to the UN's International Strategy for Disaster Reduction at £1 million a year. We are also supporting other international organisations' efforts in this area including the International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies and the Prevention Consortium Initiative.
	We aim to increase our spending on disaster risk reduction. Where practical, we will allocate up to 10 per cent. of each natural disaster response to mitigate the impact of future disasters. We also plan to develop a strategy to set out how we can best make further progress in this sector.
	The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development held discussions with the UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs at the Kobe Conference on 18 January 2005. We are pleased that Mr. Egeland is committed to pressing forward UN reform in this area and we are working closely with him and other interested donors to progress this.
	The UK Delegation, led by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development discussed disaster risk reduction with a number of developing countries at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, including those most affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami. We stressed the importance of disaster risk reduction and encouraged the inclusion of disaster risk reduction measures, where appropriate, in countries' poverty reduction strategies.

EC Aid

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the oral answer of 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1654, on the European Union budget, if he will make a statement on the statistical evidence supporting the statement that repatriation of EC aid would lead to lower levels of development assistance worldwide.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Member state contributions to European Commission development programmes are an annual, legally-binding treaty obligation. There is no guarantee that in the event of repatriation, other member states and governments would maintain their previous level of development spend. Globally, the level of aid volumes could therefore fall.
	As important is that working with the EC is an effective way to leverage more resources for development. EC aid equals 10 per cent. of world overseas development assistance and the member states of the European Union and the EC together provide over half of global development assistance. This collective effort has given Europe the credibility to challenge its own member states and other Development Assistance Committee (DAC) donors to increase ODA/gross national income targets and global development aid. EU co-ordination led in 2002 to a specific EU ODA/GNI volume target commitment of 0.39 per cent. by 2006 as an input to the Monterrey Financing for Development Conference. This has contributed to a considerable increase of aid resources by EU and non-EU donors in support of the Millennium Development Goals. Repatriating aid would reduce the UK's and EU's leverage to help secure such increases.

Eritrea

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Eritrea.

Hilary Benn: Eritrea remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The humanitarian situation has been compounded by drought, four consecutive years of failed harvests and on-going conflict over its border with Ethiopia. The UN estimates that roughly two thirds of the population—2.2 million out of a population of 3.6 million—may need food aid assistance at some time during 2005.
	The UN Consolidated Humanitarian Appeal (UN CAP) 2005 reports that global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates in 2004 peaked at 19 per cent. in Debub and 18.4 per cent. in Anseba. Although rates are lower at present. Maternal malnutrition rates are thought to be among the highest in the world. The UN CAP 2005 for Eritrea is for $158 million, ($144 million of which is specifically for food aid).
	Last year, DFID contributed £1 million to the UN CAP 2004 through the World Food Programme (WFP) and currently supports two humanitarian supplementary feeding programmes with the Dutch Interchurch Aid and CAFOD. DFID also funds a water project with Oxfam. The humanitarian programme for 2005 will be £3 million, an increase of £1 million for this financial year. The increase reflects the need to ensure the most urgent humanitarian needs are met in Eritrea this year.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU Committee on co-financing operations with European non-governmental organisations in fields of interest to the developing countries met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Co-Financing Operations with European Non Governmental Organisations Committee met once under the Italian Presidency of the EU, on 25 November 2003. The Committee met once under the Irish Presidency on 20 21 April 2004. The committee met twice under the Dutch Presidency, on 29 September 2004 and on 23 November 2004.
	All meetings took place in Brussels and were attended by an official from the Department for International Development.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the series of Command Papers that sets out the main elements of government business in the EU under the respective Presidencies: Cm 6174 laid in April 2004, Cm 6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm 6450 laid in February 2005. These are available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Committee on food security and food aid met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Food Aid and Food Security Committee met twice under the Italian Presidency of the EU, on 16 July 2003 and on 6 November 2003. The Committee did not meet under the Irish Presidency. Under the Dutch Presidency the Committee met twice; on 2 July 2004 and on 10 November 2004.
	All meetings took place in Brussels and were attended by an official from the Department for International Development.
	The Food Security and Food Aid Management Committee is convened and chaired by the Commission and is constituted for member states to assist the Commission with implementation of Council Regulation No 1292/96 of 27 June 1996. The EC's Food Security and Food Aid programme consists of identification, planning and implementation of food aid operations and operations in support of food security in developing countries.
	Council Decision 1999/468/EC sets out to
	"simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".
	Under this decision, the Commission undertakes to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The reports are deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the series of Command Papers that sets out the main elements of Government business in the EU under the respective Presidencies: Cm6174, laid in April 2004 and Cm6310, laid in September 2004.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee on implementation of humanitarian aid operations met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Italian presidency of the European Union occupied the second six months of 2003. During that period the Humanitarian Aid Committee met five times, on a monthly basis with a break in August. Four meetings were held in Brussels, and one in Rome (October 2003). The Irish presidency ran for the first six months of 2004. Five meetings were held in Brussels, and one in Dublin (March 2004). The Dutch presidency occupied the second six months of 2004. Four meetings were held in Brussels, and one in the Hague (October 2004). The UK was represented by officials from DFID's Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department.
	The Humanitarian Aid Committee operates independently of the presidency. It is convened and chaired by the Commission and is constituted for member states to assist the Commission with implementation of Council Regulation No. 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid. The EC's humanitarian aid programme provides assistance, relief and protection to victims of natural disasters and man-made crises in third countries, as well as preparedness for risks of natural disasters. It approves annual allocations ("global plans") to countries suffering chronic humanitarian crises, as well as emergency response to disasters.
	Council Decision 1999/468/EC sets out to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". Under this Decision, the Commission undertakes to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The reports are deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the series of Command Papers that sets out the main elements of government business in the EU under the respective presidencies: Cm6174, laid in April 2004 and Cm6310, laid in September 2004 refer.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Joint Committee (EEC-Côte d'Ivoire) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID officials are not aware of any meetings of a Joint Committee (EEC-Côte d'Ivoire) having taken place. In response to our inquiries, the European Commission was unable to recall such a Committee ever having met or what its mandate might have been.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidencies of the EU the European Development Fund Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The European Development Fund (EOF) Committee met four times under the Italian presidency of the EU, in July, September, October and November 2003. The Committee met four times under the Irish presidency of the EU, in February, March, May and June 2004. The Committee met four times under the Dutch presidency, in July, September, October and November 2004.
	All meetings took place in Brussels and were attended by officials from-the Department for International Development and the UK Permanent Representation in Brussels.
	The EDF Committee operates independently of the presidency. It is convened and chaired by the Commission and is constituted for member states to meet with the Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Its role is to scrutinise and approve financing proposals and allocation of EDF funds, serve as a forum for the exchange of views on country and regional strategies and approve multi-annual allocations to country and regional programmes.
	Operations financed from the European Development Fund are governed by the provisions of the Partnership Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Community (ACP-EU) signed in Cotonou, Benin on 23 June 2000 (known as the Cotonou Agreement).
	The 15 December 2000 Internal Agreement applicable to the Cotonou Agreement specifies that the Commission produce an annual report. This report is subject to parliamentary scrutiny in the normal manner.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the series of Command Papers that sets out the main elements of government business in the EU under the respective presidencies: Cm6174, laid in April 2004 and Cm6310, laid in September 2004.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidencies of the EU the Advisory Committee on the special system of assistance to traditional ACP suppliers of bananas met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Advisory Committee on the special system of assistance to traditional African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP) suppliers of bananas met once in November 2003 under the Dutch presidency of the EU, the Committee did not meet under the Irish presidency of the EU and met once in November 2004 under the Dutch presidency of the EU.
	All meetings of this Committee took place in Brussels and were attended by officials from the Department for International Development and the UK Permanent Representation in Brussels.
	The special framework of assistance (SFA) for traditional ACP suppliers of bananas provides for financial and technical assistance to 12 ACP countries, taking account of changes in the marketing arrangements for bananas in Europe following the amendments to the import regime introduced on 1 January 1999. The objective of this programme is to improve competitiveness of traditional ACP banana production. The Council regulation aims to achieve this goal by funding projects designed to increase banana productivity. Funding is also available for diversification where no opportunities for sustainable increase in banana production exists.
	Council Decision 1999/468/EC sets out to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertakes to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The reports are deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the series of Command Papers that sets out the main elements of government business in the EU under the respective presidencies: Cm6174, laid in April 2004 and Cm6310, laid in September 2004.

EU Trade

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Expanding Exports Helpdesk on the (a) value and (b) volume of exports from developing countries into the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To help exporters in developing countries to make the most of EU trade preferences, and to make sure that this theoretical market access translates into more trade in practice, the European Commission set up the online Export Helpdesk in February 2004. This innovation aims to boost developing countries' exports by ensuring that exporters in these countries get the maximum information and assistance necessary to tackle the EU market. Practically it provides extensive information free of charge on customs duties, documentation, and rules of origin and trade statistics. An improved multilingual version, the Expanding Exports Helpdesk, was launched on 4 February 2005.
	DFID has not made a formal assessment of the potential impact of this Helpdesk, but we expect the European Commission itself to monitor its impact regularly to ensure that it is effective and provides good value for money.

EU Trade

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the official initiatives in (a) the UK and (b) the EU to boost export opportunities for developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The European Commission is responsible for EU member states' trade policies, including import policies. As part of this, the EU as a whole operates a series of preferential import arrangements with all developing country partners, either on a bilateral, regional or multilateral basis, including arrangements under the Cotonou Agreement, the Generalised System of Preferences, and the Everything But Arms Initiative. All of these have as part of their objectives the aim of improving the export competitiveness of developing countries and helping them take advantage of trading opportunities through privileged access to EU markets. In addition, the European Commission has recently launched an improved version of its "Expanding Exports Helpdesk", aimed at boosting developing country exports to the EU by giving exporters in these countries all the practical information and advice they need.
	In addition, the UK and EU provide support through its Trade Related Capacity Building (TRCB) Programmes. The UK has committed a total of £109 million since 1998 to building the skills and knowledge developing countries need to develop their trading capabilities, almost three quarters of which is aimed at helping small businesses export both regionally and internationally. The UK provides this support to increase the volume and value of developing country exports, including widening their range of exports and selling in a wider range of markets.
	For example, in Southern Africa, the UK is funding a £12 million programme to boost export opportunities for small-scale farmers and traders by developing common standards across goods and services in the region and improving customs procedures.
	We are also funding a £2 million programme in Kenya, which is supporting the business and investment climate there, in order to strengthen Kenyan capacity to export goods to regional and international markets.
	The UK is also funding a £17 million programme which will enable small enterprises from Nigeria to access new commodity and services markets—including international markets.
	Additionally, we contribute to European TRCB efforts, which have provided £675 million to develop the exports of developing countries since 2001.

Grenada

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the level of continuing need for aid and assistance in Grenada following Hurricane Ivan; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact on the (a) tourist industry and (b) economy of Grenada of Hurricane Ivan; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assistance is being given to Grenada to diversify its agricultural production; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the impact of Hurricane Ivan on agriculture in Grenada, with particular reference to (a) nutmeg and (b) cocoa; and what assistance is being given towards recovery of these industries;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of housing need in Grenada following Hurricane Ivan; and what assistance his Department is providing.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Hurricane Ivan has been a catastrophe for Grenada. Two weeks after the hurricane hit the island, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) undertook a macro-socio-economic assessment of the damage caused. This assessed that 90 per cent. of housing stock was either destroyed or damaged, and around 30 per cent. of the population made homeless. The OECS/ECLAC assessment indicated that the damage to schools, hospitals, businesses and infrastructure was estimated to be in the region of £500 million, or twice Grenada's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
	Grenada had been recording impressive growth rates in recent years and was expected to grow by 5.7 per cent. in 2004. With significant losses to the main productive sectors of agriculture and tourism caused by the hurricane, the economy is now expected to have contracted by 1.4 per cent. in 2004. Some 90 per cent. of hotel rooms on the island were affected by the hurricane. A staff mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will provide a further update on the post-Ivan macro-economic situation and the prospects for economic recovery at a donor briefing meeting in Barbados at the end of February 2005.
	Unemployment has increased with an estimated 40,000 jobs directly affected by the hurricane. However, as the physical reconstruction of buildings and infrastructure gets under way, it is anticipated that unemployment levels will start to decline.
	The devastation to the agricultural sector caused by Hurricane Ivan was particularly severe: 95 per cent. of nutmeg trees—Grenada's principal export commodity—were uprooted. Regrowth and recovery of the nutmeg industry will take an estimated 7–10 years. Grenada can, however, continue to export its reserve stocks for the next three years. This should help to cushion the impact of the loss of the trees on the economy. Cocoa was also affected, albeit, to a much lesser extent. 30 per cent. of the crop will need to be replanted, and it is expected that 50–70 per cent. of the harvest for next year will be available.
	At the 19 November donor conference on Grenada, the IMF announced that for the calendar year of 2004, donor contributions would fill the £21 million gap in Grenada's finances. At that time, the IMF anticipated that a financing gap of £4.2 million remained for 2005, which would widen in 2006 to £19.2 million. The IMF currently has a team in Grenada to undertake a fuller assessment of financing needs in 2005 and 2006. The IMF team will brief DFID officials and other development partners on their findings at a meeting in Barbados on 23 February 2005.
	One of the key financial challenges for the Government of Grenada is a high debt burden. We are working with the United States Agency for International Development, to provide a team of debt advisers to help the Government of Grenada to restructure its total stock of debt.
	Despite the unprecedented scale of the damage to the agricultural sector, the Grenadian Government has identified significant potential to restructure and transform the sector with support from the private sector. DFID is currently funding an evaluation of the direct and indirect effects of Hurricane Ivan on the forestry sector in Grenada as the basis for determining the interventions needed to rehabilitate and reconstruct the forestry sector. The study will implement a detailed assessment of the key damage to forestation on the island, and prioritise activities to ensure that work is urgently undertaken to prevent landslides and provide protection to the water table.
	Under the United Nations Flash Appeal for Grenada, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, appealed for some £2.2 1 million to support agriculture. £1.4 million has so far been committed and assistance has been provided to rehabilitate the cocoa crop and to assist the Government in its development of a strategy for nutmeg production.
	The Grenada Board of Tourism now reports 50 per cent. of hotel rooms on the island are back in operation, and predicts that the figure will be 80 per cent. by the end of December 2005. The rehabilitation has been mainly funded by private insurance and the private sector.
	Reconstruction of the housing sector is a Government of Grenada priority, and is underway. Insurance payments are being made to those eligible, and the raw materials needed are being imported. For priority vulnerable and needy families, the Government of Grenada has committed itself to constructing 225 low-income homes between November 2004 and February 2005 at a cost of about £8,000 per home, and providing material assistance for the repair of 1,125 roofs during the same period. The Government are also offering a Soft Loan Facility that provides a maximum loan amount of approximately £8,000 for 10 years with a one year grace period, at an interest rate of 3 per cent. A training and a public information programme on construction tips are also on-going, with model houses displaying appropriate building techniques being driven around the island. Over a longer timeframe, the Government of Grenada has set a target to construct 10,000 low-income homes under a phased programme over the next five years.
	In addition, the Venezuelan Government has committed to the construction of 130 homes in the Parish of St. David's; the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to constructing 200 houses and repairing a further 1,500 houses by the end of 2005; and the People's Republic of China has also undertaken to provide 2,000 low-cost homes. A number of NGOs are seeking to provide low-cost, quickly constructed homes.
	DFID's micro finance project in Grenada has developed a new facility for small housing loans. The European Commission are considering how their micro finance programme might provide similar support.
	1 Conversion US$ to GBP = 1.8

HIV/AIDS

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of recent research into (a) the drug Nevirapine and (b) the consequences of that research for use of the drug in preventing HIV/AIDS transmission from mother to baby.

Hilary Benn: Nevirapine is one of the most cost effective and clinically effective ways of preventing mother to child transmission of HIV. However, there have been concerns raised about the extent to which the use of the drug creates resistance. These issues will be discussed at a conference on Retrovirus and Opportunistic Infections in Boston in two weeks time.
	DFID follows World Health Organisation guidelines on treatment for HIV positive mothers. The guidelines provide for a range of options, that take into account both clinical outcomes and practical considerations about health system capacity in each country, and the difficulties for women to adhere to more complicated treatment regimes.

Hurricane Ivan

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance is being provided by his Department to (a) Grenada, (b) the Cayman Islands and (c) the Caribbean region as a result of Hurricane Ivan; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In response to the disaster caused in the Caribbean by Hurricane Ivan, the Government have provided both immediate emergency assistance and additional development assistance totalling some £8.6 million. Most of this has been delivered by the Department for International Development (DFID), and has included:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Emergency relief supplies 56,000 
			 Development Assistance to enable public services to continue 5.5 million 
			 Health services through the Pan-American Health Organisation 85,000 
			 Emergency help through the International Federation of the Red Cross 300,000 
			 Relief and rehabilitation through Christian Aid 239,193 
			 Relief operations through Oxfam 200,000 
			 The UK's portion of European humanitarian assistance 700,000 
			 Total 7,080,193 
		
	
	We have also changed our ongoing programmes in Public Sector Reform, Education and Micro-Finance to take account of the disaster in Grenada. We are funding a surveyor and architect to assess the damage and re-building options for the Grenadian Parliament and the Governor-General's House; jointly with the United States Agency for International Development, we are providing a team of debt advisers to help the Government of Grenada restructure the total stock of Grenada's debt; and funding a Forestry specialist to advise on reforestation, which will help prevent landslides and provide some protection for the water table. We are also co-ordinating design work for a harmonised donor approach to monitoring and reporting which will reduce the Government's need to respond to a number of different reporting requirements. DFID continues to remain engaged in this process as the international community works together to assist Grenada rebuild its economy.
	Other UK Government Department's played a vital role in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane. HMS Richmond and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Wave Ruler provided immediate emergency medical help and clean-up support. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded urgent repairs to the prison.
	In the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, the Government provided emergency relief supplies and a contribution to the clean-up operations, worth about £230,000 in total, to the Cayman Islands. In addition, DFID's Disaster Management Adviser visited Grand Cayman to offer advice. The Government remains engaged.
	Other assistance in the region included £940,699 to Jamaica, £50,000 to Cuba and £304,560 to the Bahamas. A further £50,000 worth of assistance to the region was provided through the Pan American Health Organisation.

Kenya

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the level of corruption in Kenya; and what discussions he has had with the Kenyan Government on (a) tackling corruption and (b) establishing good governance.

Hilary Benn: The anti-corruption ticket, which swept the Kenyan Government into power in 2002, has been almost totally discredited. Though Transparency International records a slight reduction in the perception of petty corruption and bribery, grand corruption seems to have returned to pre-2002 levels and possibly higher. The resignation on 7 February of the Permanent Secretary in the Office of Governance and Ethics, John Githongo, was a particularly severe blow to the Government's anti-corruption credentials.
	In continued dialogue with the Government, the UK and other donors have made clear that allegations about unsatisfactory tendering and contracting procedures are serious and need to be fully investigated. We have remained categorical that firm action should be taken against those found to have acted corruptly. We have continued to press the Government to pass important legislation including the Public Procurement Bill, and the Public Financial Management Bill.
	At the same time, we continue to encourage the Kenyan Government to give their full and undivided support to the country's anti-corruption institutions. The UK authorities have assisted the Kenyan authorities with their ongoing investigations. We will continue to give them co-operation and would consider further help with investigations into corrupt cases that are followed through with energy and probity. They should be followed through to their conclusion and those found responsible made to answer for their wrong doings, regardless of position or connections.
	To this end, DFID is supporting the central Government systems that are intended to ensure that public financial resources are monitored and used more effectively. DFID, alongside 16 other donors, is also supporting the Kenyan Governance, Justice, Law and Order sector. This programme is working to strengthen key institutions that are directly involved in fighting corruption. There is to be increased support to the Director of Public Prosecution, Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and civil society organisations, such as Transparency International, that work to improve the transparency of public resources. The donors will take recent events into account when making their assessments and planning their joint ongoing support, and the emphasis must be on building the institutions over the medium term, but the Kenyan Government will have to demonstrate that they are serious about tackling corruption.

Kenya

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to reduce aid to Kenya in response to its slow progress in tackling corruption.

Hilary Benn: Our Country Assistance Plan, launched with the Government of Kenya in June 2004, makes clear that we want to support the implementation of Kenya's Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS). Our CAP makes provision to increase our development assistance to £50 million in 2005–06, but final decisions will depend on ERS progress, including tackling corruption. Our assistance is designed to support long term change in Kenya that will lead to improved governance, and to help Kenya to make sustainable progress towards the MDGs. The faster the pace of reform, and the more conducive the environment, the faster progress we will make.
	However, we are not providing poverty reduction budget support to the Kenyan Government, since we are not convinced that the Government is seriously committed to fighting corruption and making good progress on its overall reform programme.
	Nonetheless, we believe that we can make progress on the Millennium Development Goals by supporting specific sectors and projects. For example there are opportunities for constructive engagement in, and support to, the education and justice, law and order sectors. In these we have pooled our funding with other donors to support the Government of Kenya's own strategies such as free primary education, without putting our money directly into their systems. Under these arrangements, we helped the Government to set up reliable school management systems to attract large support for learning materials for primary schools. All 18,000 primary schools in Kenya now have textbooks.
	In addition, there are opportunities even in sectors that have less well-established strategies by the Government of Kenya. In health for example, DFID is funding the social marketing of insecticide treated bed nets that is expected to reduce the rate of under five mortality by 14 per cent. (68,000 lives saved).

Liberia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the number of Liberian refugees in West Africa.

Hilary Benn: DFID relies mainly on data from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who reports that there are currently 257,000 Liberian refugees registered in camps across West Africa: 42,000 in Ghana, 52,500 in Sierra Leone, 74,000 in Côte d'Ivoire, 1,000 in the Gambia, and 87,500 in Guinea. These figures take into account recent voluntary facilitated returns of nearly 7,000 refugees from neighbouring countries, but may not take into account unofficial spontaneous repatriation. In addition, up to 75,000 Liberian refugees are estimated to reside outside formal refugee camps in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria.

New Partnership for Africa's Development

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with (a) the African Union (AU), (b) the South African Government and (c) the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) concerning the possible incorporation of NEPAD into the AU structure.

Hilary Benn: In July 2004 at the African Union (AU) Summit, the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) was legally and administratively incorporated into the AU, changing the name to AU-NEPAD. Prior to this and subsequently, DFID officials have regularly discussed related issues with the AU, South African Government and NEPAD.

New Partnership for Africa's Development

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effects of incorporating into the African Union the New Partnership for Africa's Development.

Hilary Benn: We support the incorporation of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) into the African Union (AU) as a means of ensuring coordination of these important initiatives. It is too early to make an assessment of how effective this will be in practice.

Rohingya Refugees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes his Department (a) has set up, (b) is running and (c) is funding in Malaysia to assist the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID is not running or funding projects in Malaysia to assist the approximately 10,000 Rohingya refugees from Burma. DFID does not have a programme in Malaysia which is one of South East Asia's richest countries. EU Missions in Malaysia, at the initiative of the UK, have lobbied the Malaysian Government over the status and treatment of Rohingya refugees, most recently in November 2004 following the Malaysian Government's decision to issue them with identify cards.
	DFID's support to Burmese refugees is focused on support to the 185,000 Burmese people living in camps in Thailand. We support the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) in providing food and shelter for those living in the camps. We are also funding the World Health Organisation to co-ordinate health services to refugees on the Thai-Burma border.

South Africa

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Government of South Africa about (a) acknowledgement of the scale of the HIV/AIDS problem and (b) the allocation of resources and expertise to tackle the epidemic.

Hilary Benn: The Government of South Africa recognises the scale of their HIV/AIDS epidemic and, since 2000, has increased seven-fold, the amount allocated through the budget to HIV/AIDS programmes. South Africa launched its "operational plan" for comprehensive HIV and AIDS care, management and treatment in November 2003. During 2004, more than half a million people undertook voluntary counselling and testing, and more than 50,000 started anti-retroviral treatment.
	DFID supports South African efforts to combat HIV and AIDS through a number of programmes. A £30 million multisectoral HIV/AIDS programme, approved in 2003, provides technical support and advice to Government at national and provincial levels to implement its plans. The programme also provides support to non-government organisations and works with the private sector to disseminate best practice.
	DFID and British high commission staff in Pretoria regularly discuss both the scale of the epidemic, and the Government of South Africa's response, with their South African Government counterparts.

Stationery

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Department spent on (a) stationery and (b) office supplies in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The Department For International Development has spent the following on stationery and office supplies since 1997:
	
		
			 Financial year £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 112,920.88 
			 1998–99 97,315.35 
			 1999–2000 99,704.63 
			 2000–01 139,896.64 
			 2001–02 100,488.02 
			 2002–03 136,592.65 
			 2003–04 158.603.15 
			 2004–05 to date 96,286.70 
		
	
	Our records do not allow us to differentiate between stationery and office supplies.

Sudan

John Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the United Kingdom is taking in partnership with other countries to ensure that the food, shelter, sanitation, healthcare and other basic needs of refugees in the Darfur region of Sudan are being adequately met; and what steps are being taken to assist in providing protection against attacks.

Hilary Benn: The UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the Darfur crisis, having committed £62.5 million since September 2003. The UK also contributes around 18 per cent. of the European Commission's €152 million contribution to the crisis. This year the UK will provide £70 million in humanitarian assistance across Sudan. This includes £20 million for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in a wide range of sectors, including food, shelter, sanitation, and healthcare; £5 million for the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) 2005 Sudan Appeal; £5 million for the UN consolidated Appeal for Eastern Chad; and an un-earmarked £40 million contribution for the UN Workplan for Sudan, which will allow the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Khartoum to target funding where it is needed most. When making funding allocations, DFID co-ordinates closely with other major donors, particularly the US and EC. The large majority of DFID interventions are jointly funded by other donors.
	The UK remains gravely concerned about the security situation in Darfur, and we are pressing all sides to stop fighting and adhere to the Abuja protocols on providing unimpeded and unrestricted humanitarian access and refraining from all hostilities and military actions in the region. The UK has provided some £14 million to the Africa Union monitoring mission in Darfur, including the provision of 143 vehicles; 470 more vehicles are on their way. DFID also funds NGOs and international organisations providing protection to the Sudanese population. One such example is, the ICRC 2005 Appeal, to which DFID will contribute £5 million this year, this includes dialogue with all parties, and interventions to minimise violence due to competition for resources between internally displaced peoples (IDPs), nomads and farmers.

Uganda

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what safeguards are in place to ensure that UK development aid donated to Uganda is spent (a) appropriately and (b) where designated; and what assurance the Ugandan Government has provided on this.

Hilary Benn: The UK currently provides 60 per cent. of its assistance as Poverty Reduction Budget Support, as a direct contribution to the Government of Uganda's budget.
	Uganda has a well-developed and consultative budgetary process which allows donors to ensure that Uganda meets its commitment to prioritise poverty reduction. It provides an opportunity to endorse the budget at the annual Public Expenditure Review. Allocations to the Government's "Poverty Action Fund", for example, have risen from less than 20 per cent. of the budget in 1997 to 38 per cent. in 2004.
	Budget execution is generally good and is closely monitored by Government and donors, including the International Financial Institutions. DFID's Poverty Reduction Budget Support, and that of other partners such as the World Bank, is conditional on endorsement of the budget and its subsequent execution. This ensures that allocations to the Poverty Action Fund are protected. Detailed half and full year budget execution reports are posted on the internet, and the Government continues to produce audited accounts within the statutory period of nine months. Uganda performs well in international comparative assessments of public financial management, including the World Bank/IMF expenditure tracking assessment conducted in 2004.
	In addition to DFID's contribution to Uganda's budget, the UK provides a significant amount of project assistance, including support for improving public financial management. These projects are managed in accordance with DFID procedures and are subject to regular reviews to ensure impact and financial propriety. The National Audit Office was satisfied with DFID systems in Uganda when it audited our programme in December 2004.

Zimbabwe

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the Zimbabwe Government's refusal to accept food aid from the United Nations.

Hilary Benn: The Government of Zimbabwe's decision not to renew their appeal to the United Nations for food aid is of concern to the humanitarian community. The absence of an appeal may restrict the World Food Programme's capacity to plan, seek funding for, and implement further emergency operations over the coming months. Many observers believe that the Government intends to control the supply and availability of food in the country over the coming months as a political tool to gain votes in the parliamentary elections, scheduled for 31 March 2005. Donor-funded relief programmes have remained generally free of political interference. But there has been some evidence that access to food distributed by the Zimbabwe Government is being politicised. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Benefit Claims (Scotland)

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people claimed attendance allowance in each constituency in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people claimed disability living allowance in each constituency in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The administration of attendance allowance is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr. Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Vivien Hopkins to Mr. David Marshall, dated 21 February 2005
	In reply to two of your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Disability and Carers Service, the Minister for Disabled People, Maria Eagle MP, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. In the Chief Executive's absence I have been asked to reply on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed attendance allowance and disability living allowance in each constituency in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available. The information requested is as follows:
	
		Thousands
		
			 Recipients by constituency at 31 August 2004 AA DLA 
		
		
			 Aberdeen Central 1.8 3.0 
			 Aberdeen North 1.9 3.3 
			 Aberdeen South 1.8 2.7 
			 Airdrie and Shotts 2.2 6.1 
			 Angus 2.0 3.3 
			 Argyll and Bute 2.2 3.2 
			 Ayr 2.9 3.8 
			 Banff and Buchan 1.9 4.7 
			 Caithness Sunderland and Easter Ross 1.3 2.9 
			 Carrick cumnock and Doon Valley 2.4 5.9 
			 Central Fife 1.7 5.6 
			 Clydebank and Milngavie 2.2 3.9 
			 Clydesdale 2.4 5.8 
			 Coatbridge and Chryston 2.1 5.2 
			 Cumbernauld and Kilsyth 1.7 4.1 
			 Cunninghame North 1.9 4.4 
			 Cunninghame South 1.6 4.6 
			 Dumbarton 1.9 4.7 
			 Dumfries 2.0 4.0 
			 Dundee East 3.0 4.7 
			 Dundee West 2.5 4.3 
			 Dunfermline East 1.4 4.6 
			 Dunfermline West 1.4 3.4 
			 East Kilbride 2.4 3.4 
			 East Lothian 2.3 3.9 
			 Eastwood 2.3 3.3 
			 Edinburgh Central 1.5 3.0 
			 Edinburgh East and Musselburgh 1.7 4.4 
			 Edinburgh North and Leigh 1.7 3.7 
			 Edinburgh Pentlands 1.7 2.8 
			 Edinburgh South 1.8 3.2 
			 Edinburgh West 1.8 2.6 
			 Falkirk East 1.9 4.0 
			 Falkirk West 1.9 4.9 
			 Galloway and Upper Nithsdale 2.1 4.2 
			 Glasgow Anniesland 2.6 5.5 
			 Glasgow Baillieston 2.3 6.3 
			 Glasgow Cathcart 1.5 4.6 
			 Glasgow Govan 1.9 4.4 
			 Glasgow Kelvin 1.8 3.6 
			 Glasgow Maryhill 2.0 6.0 
			 Glasgow Pollok 2.3 5.6 
			 Glasgow Rutherglen 2.4 5.2 
			 Glasgow Shettleston 2.4 6.9 
			 Glasgow Springburn 2.2 6.2 
			 Gordon 1.3 2.4 
			 Greenock and Inverclyde 1.8 4.1 
			 Hamilton North and Bellshill 1.6 4.8 
			 Hamilton South 1.7 5.1 
			 Inverness East Nairn and Lochaber 2.3 3.4 
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 2.5 4.2 
			 Kirkcaldy 1.8 3.6 
			 Linlithgow 1.7 5.3 
			 Livingston 1.8 5.3 
			 Midlothian 1.8 4.2 
			 Moray 2.0 2.8 
			 Motherwell and Wishaw 2.2 5.3 
			 North East Fife 1.4 2.2 
			 North Tayside 2.0 3.1 
			 Ochil 1.4 4.6 
			 Orkney and Shetland 1.0 1.5 
			 Paisley North 1.7 5.0 
			 Paisley South 1.7 4.2 
			 Perth 2.6 3.4 
			 Ross Skye and Inverness West 2.0 3.2 
			 Roxburgh and Berwickshire 1.7 2.7 
			 Stirling 1.7 3.5 
			 Strathkelvin and Bearsden 2.2 3.5 
			 Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale 1.8 2.5 
			 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine 1.6 2.0 
			 West Renfrewshire 1.5 4.0 
			 Western Isles 0.8 1.0 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 May 2004
	2. Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. Figures marked * are less than 500 and subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	4. "—" denotes nil or negligible.
	5. From November 2002, the methodology for producing these figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre.
	Please let me know if I can be of further help.

Chemical Labelling

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how the concept of normal handling and use contained in EU legislation on the classification and labelling of chemicals is applied in the United Kingdom; who is responsible for advising the Government on the application of this concept; what guidance has been issued by the Health and Safety Executive to the business community and others on how the concept of normal handling and use will be applied; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he plans to issue guidance to the business community on how the concept of normal handling and use in EU legislation on the classification and labelling of chemicals will be applied.

Jane Kennedy: The EU legislation which includes the expression "normal handling and use" is applied in the United Kingdom through the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging Regulations 2002. These regulations formally refer to the Approved Classification and Labelling Guide, a practical document which contains the expression without specific advice on its application. This guide is based on the relevant EU directive and was prepared by the Health and Safety Executive.
	We are aware that there is some concern that the present advice does not sufficiently explain the application of "normal handling and use". The term is particularly important in EU negotiations when the dangerous properties of chemicals are discussed and agreed between member states. Clarification of the concept should be developed at European level and UK officials are actively pursuing this in the appropriate fora.

Cleaning Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the costs of cleaning the Department were in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: DWP was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security (DSS) and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) including the former Employment Service. The vast majority of the DWP Estate has been occupied under the terms of the PRIME PFI contract since April 1998. The PRIME contract was expanded in December 2003 to include former Employment Service properties. The Department pays a Facilities Unit Price for the accommodation which includes cleaning costs. The cost of cleaning is not separately identifiable.
	The figures in the table represent costs of cleaning former Employment Service properties prior to December 2003. The figures also include the cost of cleaning the Health and Safety Executive offices since it became part of DWP in 2002.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 1.6 
			 1998–99 6.3 
			 1999–2000 7.4 
			 2000–01 7.5 
			 2001–02 8.3 
			 2002–03 10.4 
			 2003–04(184) 8.3 
		
	
	(184) April 2003 to December 2003

Council Tax Benefit

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Bridgwater constituency are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of council tax benefit.

Chris Pond: Council tax benefit data is not available broken down by constituency.
	Estimates of the total amount council tax benefit that went unclaimed in 2002–03, the latest year for which information is available, can be found in the Department's report entitled: "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2002/2003"; copies are available in the Library.

Employment Rehabilitation

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what standardised data he collates on the performance of UK agencies in securing rehabilitation into employment in comparison with that of other OECD countries.

Chris Pond: We provide data for the OECD on active labour market policies for the disabled. A time series for the UK excluding Northern Ireland is shown in the table:
	
		Spending on programmes for disabled people
		
			  Nominal spending (£ million) Real spending (£ million 2003–04 prices) 
		
		
			 1982–83 85 191 
			 1983–84 92 198 
			 1984–85 97 198 
			 1985–86 105 204 
			 1986–87 122 229 
			 1987–88 133 237 
			 1988–89 147 245 
			 1989–90 136 211 
			 1990–91 132 190 
			 1991–92 143 194 
			 1992–93 160 211 
			 1993–94 159 204 
			 1994–95 174 220 
			 1995–96 183 225 
			 1996–97 175 208 
			 1997–98 183 212 
			 1998–99 188 211 
			 1999–00 215 237 
			 2000–01 222 242 
			 2001–02 222 236 
			 2002–03 268 275 
			 2003–04 298 298 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP figures.
	This is then presented as internationally comparable data, for example in Table H of the statistical annex in the OECD publication "Employment Outlook 2004".
	
		
			 Measures for the Disabled 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Expenditure (Percentage GDP) 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 
			 Participant Inflows (Percentage Labour Force) 0.18 0.18 0.17 — 
		
	
	Source:
	OECD Employment Outlook 2004

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people leaving incapacity benefit in each year since 1995 had received the benefit for (a) less than six months, (b) less than 12 months, (c) less than two years and (d) more than five years.

Maria Eagle: The available information is in the table.
	
		All incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance terminations in the quarters shown, by duration of claim.
		
			 Quarter ending All Up to 6 months Over 6 months up to 1 year Over 1 up to 2 years Over 2 up to 5 years Over 5 years 
		
		
			 May 1995 201,500 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 August 1995 245,200 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 November 1995 272,300 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 February 1996 266,300 127,400 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 May 1996 277,400 117,600 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 August 1996 251,500 116,800 31,200 n/a n/a n/a 
			 November 1996 235,000 121,400 29,700 n/a n/a n/a 
			 February 1997 244,000 118,100 30,600 n/a n/a n/a 
			 May 1997 257,100 116,500 33,600 n/a n/a n/a 
			 August 1997 241,800 115,700 31,000 22,600 n/a n/a 
			 November 1997 245,300 115,100 32,700 21,500 n/a n/a 
			 February 1998 230,400 105,200 32,100 21,900 n/a n/a 
			 May 1998 238,500 107,000 34,900 22,700 n/a n/a 
			 August 1998 215,900 94,200 30,800 21,600 n/a n/a 
			 November 1998 242,400 104,900 31,700 23,300 n/a n/a 
			 February 1999 193,800 95,000 24,900 17,700 n/a n/a 
			 May 1999 214,500 95,600 29,300 18,900 n/a n/a 
			 August 1999 217,400 93,400 28,000 18,600 n/a n/a 
			 November 1999 214,500 94,300 29,100 18,100 n/a n/a 
			 February 2000 213,300 93,500 27,600 18,800 n/a n/a 
			 May 2000 193,400 89,700 25,800 17,300 n/a n/a 
			 August 2000 174,900 84,600 25,500 16,300 22,500 26,000 
			 November 2000 180,500 85,000 27,400 16,500 23,400 28,200 
			 February 2001 183,500 80,800 27,800 17,800 22,700 34,400 
			 May 2001 187,400 81,700 30,100 17,600 25,500 32,400 
			 August 2001 175,300 77,500 28,600 17,300 22,000 29,800 
			 November 2001 188,400 82,500 30,800 19,100 22,700 33,300 
			 February 2002 176,300 74,700 27,400 17,500 22,700 33,900 
			 May 2002 181,200 76,700 27,600 17,500 25,100 34,400 
			 August 2002 176,600 74,200 27,200 17,300 23,500 34,400 
			 November 2002 186,100 80,700 27,700 17,400 24,400 35,900 
			 February 2003 170,700 72,000 26,500 15,900 21,900 34,300 
			 May 2003 166,300 72,800 29,800 17,300 23,200 23,000 
			 August 2003 183,400 75,200 28,000 17,100 24,600 38,500 
			 November 2003 187,500 76,100 30,200 15,700 24,600 40,900 
			 February 2004 173,900 70,000 28,100 15,500 22,500 37,800 
			 May 2004 178,100 69,000 29,300 17,200 25,700 36,800 
			 August 2004 125,300 51,600 22,000 12,700 20,000 19,100 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2. Information is not available on claims which commenced prior to April 1995.
	3. "n/a" not available.
	4. Figures include all incapacity benefit, severe disability allowance and credits-only cases.
	5. These figures have been updated to include late notified terminations, including terminations for retirement pension. Figures for the latest quarter do not include any late notifications and are subject to major changes in future quarters. For illustration purposes, total terminations for August 2003 increased by 34 per cent. in the year following their initial release.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample.

New Deal

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much each organisation contracted to deliver the new deal for disabled people receives in respect of each person they support into work.

Jane Kennedy: The funding structure of the new deal for disabled people provides the organisations who deliver it, the Job Brokers, with an initial payment, usually of £304 for each person who registers with them. Further payments are then made for each entry into a job and for each job that is sustained for at least 13 weeks. There is no standard rate for these latter payments. They vary from Broker to Broker and are consequently Commercial in Confidence.

New Deal

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs have been created in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East under the new deal.

Jane Kennedy: The new deal is not a job creation scheme. It is designed to help unemployed and disadvantaged people into work or training. It has already been successful in helping more than 1.2 million people into employment, including 2,890 in the Middlesbrough and East Cleveland constituency.

Publicity

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total expenditure by his Department on (a) advertising and (b) advertising and publicity was in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of each will be in (A) 2004–05, (B) 2005–06, (C) 2006–07 and (D) 2007–08.

Jane Kennedy: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security, parts of the former Department for Education and Employment and the Employment Service. Information on costs for 1996–98 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Details on spending on advertising and publicity in 2003 to 2004 are in the table:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003–04 campaign Advertising expenditure Total publicity expenditure 
		
		
			 Future pensioners/Informed Choice — 2,450,000 
			 Second State Pension 215,590 304,090 
			 Pensioners Guide — 952,890 
			 Pension Credit 10,378,380 15,580,000 
			 The Pension Service 74,000 522,000 
			 Direct Payment 11,044,000 12,474,000 
			 Direct Payment roadshow — 480,000 
			 Fraud 8,383,000 9,339,000 
			 New Deal 5,800,000 7,500,000 
			 Jobcentre Plus Awareness — 557,170 
			 Jobcentre Direct 1,593,200 1,700,330 
			 Age Positive 66,000 882,000 
			 DDA Awareness and Disability Rights 775,220 2,450,000 
			 Council Tax Benefit 556,230 673,000 
			 Winter Fuel Payments 627,000 938,000 
			 Total 39,512,620 56,802,480 
		
	
	For 2004 to 2005 estimated total expenditure is in the table:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004–05 campaign Advertising expenditure Total publicity expenditure 
		
		
			 Future pensioners/Informed Choice — 854,400 
			 State Pension Deferral 200,000 300,000 
			 Pensioners Guide — 1,000,000 
			 Pension Credit 4,023,810 6,500,000 
			 The Pension Service — 559,000 
			 Direct Payment Information Campaign 8,808,000 9,500,000 
			 Direct Payment roadshow — 3,000,000 
			 Fraud 6,450,000 7,150,000 
			 New Deal — 1,650,000 
			 Jobcentre Plus employer marketing 443,000 1,300,000 
			 Jobcentre Plus Awareness — 275,740 
			 Age Positive — 600,000 
			 DDA Awareness 1,122,000 2,000,000 
			 Council Tax Benefit 661,640 850,000 
			 Winter Fuel Payments 514,910 815,000 
			 Total 22,223,360 36,354,140 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All costs exclude VAT.
	2. All figures have been rounded.
	3. Advertising costs are total media costs excluding all production costs.
	4. Information campaigns costing under £250,000 and details of highly localised publicity activity by the Department's customer-facing businesses have generally not been included as a disproportionate cost would be incurred in compiling these figures.
	Decisions have not yet been made on future expenditure for 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08.

Asylum Seekers

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to return unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to their countries of origin; and what consultation will be carried out on those plans.

Des Browne: We have been developing a returns programme for some time for unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASCs) who are under 18 years of age and whose asylum or Humanitarian Protection claims have been refused.
	Only those UASCs for whom an appropriate package of reception care and support has been put in place, or whose families have been traced, will be returned. The programme will be piloted in Albania. We set out our intentions in this area in "Controlling our borders: Making Migration Work For Britain, Five year strategy for asylum and immigration" (Cm 6472, February 2005, paragraph 76).
	Other Government Departments, non-governmental organisations and local authorities have been closely consulted throughout the development of the programme. We have also engaged formally with the Albanian Government both in Albania and the UK.

Asylum Seekers

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government are planning to return unaccompanied asylum seeker children to their countries of origin.

Des Browne: We have been developing a returns programme for some time for unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASCs) who are under 18 years of age and whose asylum or Humanitarian Protection claims have been refused.
	Only those UASCs for whom an appropriate package of reception care and support has been put in place, or whose families have been traced, will be returned. The programme will be piloted in Albania. We set out our intentions in this area in "Controlling our borders: Making Migration Work For Britain, Five year strategy for asylum and immigration" (Cm 6472, February 2005, paragraph 76).

Avon and Somerset Constabulary

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the full-time equivalent head count for Avon and Somerset constabulary was in each of the last eight years.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 7 February 2005
	Information on police service strength is published annually in a Home Office statistical bulletin and half-yearly in an online report. The latest figures were published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 13/04, "Police Service Strength England and Wales, 31 March 2004".
	Full-time equivalent strength for Avon and Somerset constabulary is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Police officers Police staff Community support officers Traffic wardens Total strength 
		
		
			 31 March 1997 2,989 1,439 — 108 4,536 
			 31 March 1998 2,976 1,393 — 114 4,483 
			 31 March 1999 2,999 1,425 — 115 4,539 
			 31 March 2000 2,934 1,436 — 59 4,429 
			 31 March 2001 2,994 1,452 — 48 4,494 
			 31 March 2002 3,096 1,611 — 44 4,751 
			 31 March 2003(193) 3,149 1,767 — 43 4,959 
			 31 March 2004(193) 3,401 1,952 45 34 5,432 
		
	
	(193) Comparable strength with previous years. Excludes staff on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave.

European Public Bodies

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the activity of the European monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction in the UK in the last 12 months; and if he will list its publications and newsletters published over that period.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The European monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction (EMCCDDA) collects, analyses and disseminates information on drugs and drug addiction based on data supplied by the United Kingdom and other member states of the European Union. Its publications aim to provide an evidence-based picture of drug misuse and addiction across Europe for a range of audiences including policy-makers, professionals and the general public.
	In the past 12 months, the EMCCDDA has published:
	Annual Report 2004—The state of the drugs problem in the European Union and Norway.
	"Drugs in Focus", EMCDDA policy briefings (three issues).
	"Drugnet Europe", EMCDDA newsletters (four issues).
	"An overview of cannabis potency in Europe", EMCDDA insights 6.
	"Hepatitis C and injecting Drug use: impact costs and policy option", EMCDDA monographs 7.
	Report on the risk assessment of TMA-2 in the framework of the joint action on new synthetic drugs.
	Report on the risk assessment 2C-I, 2C-T-2 and 2C-T-7 in the framework of the joint action on new synthetic drugs.

Home Detention Curfews

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were committed by prisoners while released on the home detention curfew scheme since January 1999; what the category of each offence was; and on how many occasions the offence committed was similar in character to that for which the prisoner had originally been sentenced.

Paul Goggins: As of 31 October 2004,101,806 prisoners have been placed on home detention curfew since the scheme was introduced in January 1999. Up to 31 October 2004, 2,107 of those prisoners have been reported to the Home Office as having been cautioned, convicted or awaiting prosecution for an offence committed while they were subject to the scheme. This represents around 2 per cent. of the offenders placed on the scheme.
	The following table gives a breakdown of these figures into offence category for the last five years up to 31 October 2004. These figures will be subject to constant change as further data is provided, such as when court proceedings on outstanding charges are completed.
	
		
			  Total breakdown of all further offences from January 1999 to 31 October 2004 Total further offences committed that are similar to the index offence 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 471 60 
			 Sexual offences 10 0 
			 Burglary 161 68 
			 Robbery 44 8 
			 Theft and handling 906 288 
			 Fraud and forgery 119 14 
			 Drug offences 313 54 
			 Motoring offences 1,023 120 
			 Other 701 7 
			 Total 3,748 619

National Offender Management Service

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role partnership between the probation service and the voluntary sector will have under the National Offender Management Service structure.

Paul Goggins: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) offers opportunities to expand voluntary sector work with offenders and develop new areas for partnership and voluntary sector involvement. Funding has been secured from the Home Office Change Up Public Sector Programme to provide training, advice and support to help the voluntary sector respond to partnership opportunities as well as prepare for contestability. A draft strategy entitled "The role of the Voluntary and Community Sector in the National Offender Management Service" was published on 31 January 2005, and has been sent to probation areas and voluntary and community groups for consultation.

Prisons

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government takes to tackle (a) racism and (b) violence in prisons.

Paul Goggins: Race equality is a core standard for the Prison Service that must permeate everything that it does. The Service works hard to ensure that all aspects of current and future policy, functions and activities take full account of race equality issues and promote good race relations, adopting a zero tolerance approach of anyone who holds racist views. The Service has dismissed a number of staff for their actions and was the first public sector employer to prevent staff being members of racist organisations.
	The joint CRE/Prison Service Action Plan "Implementing Race Equality in Prisons: A shared agenda for change" represents a milestone for race relations in the Service. It specifically focuses on the key areas of work identified by the Commission for Racial Equality in its formal investigation, and sets out the work which the Service will undertake to meet its commitment to race equality by making race equality an integral part of all that the Service does.
	The Prison Service is currently reviewing its Race Equality Scheme for 2002–05, and is drawing up plans to deliver race equality in 2005–08.
	The Prison Service has a responsibility to keep prisoners and staff safe. A Service-wide Violence Reduction Strategy has been developed through the work of the Safer Custody Group. Prison Service Order 2,750 directs every public sector prison to have in place a local violence reduction strategy.
	Each establishment is required to undertake regular analysis of the problem areas and provide an action plan to improve personal safety.
	An intranet toolkit supports the violence reduction PSO and guides establishments to develop practical solutions, including environmental and physical measures as well as alternatives for behaviour management. Specific issues such as racism, are covered with good practice examples.
	Prisons are audited against a violence reduction standard, and work towards a Key Performance Target on the rate of serious assault.

Race Relations (Amendment) Act

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fire and rescue services have (a) complied with their statutory duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, (b) published a race equality scheme and action plan and (c) carried out race impact assessments.

Nick Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not currently held centrally. However, under the requirements of the best value performance indicator (BVPI) 2B for local government, all fire and rescue authorities are in the process of providing the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with information relevant to their compliance with their statutory responsibilities under the Race Relations (Amendment ) Act (RR(A)A) 2000. This information will be reported in our publication "The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Best Value Performance Indicators 2003–04" which will be available this spring. This report will be published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and copies will be available in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Additionally the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is gathering more in-depth information on the service's compliance with the requirements of the RR(A)A 2000, in particular with regard to action planning and impact assessment. The results of this exercise will be reported to the Fire and Rescue Service Practitioners' Forum in June.

Suicides

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female suicides there have been in (i) prison and (ii) police custody in England in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The numbers requested are shown in the following tables:
	
		Table 1: Male and female self-inflicted deaths in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales
		
			 Calendar year Male self-inflicted deaths Female self-inflicted deaths 
		
		
			 1997 65 3 
			 1998 81 3 
			 1999 86 5 
			 2000 73 8 
			 2001 67 6 
			 2002 86 9 
			 2003 80 14 
			 2004 82 13 
		
	
	The Prison Service employs the term "self-inflicted death" rather than "suicide". This includes all those deaths where it appears the person may have acted specifically to take his/her own life.
	
		Table 2: Male and female suicides during or following police contact in England and Wales
		
			  Female Male 
		
		
			 1997–98 3 31 (11) 
			 1998–99 1 31 (16) 
			 1999–2000 None 21 (7) 
			 2000–01 None 7 (5) 
			 2001–02 None 7 (3) 
			 2002–03 1 12 (8) 
			 2003–04 1 8 (4) 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures in brackets show the numbers of those (both male and female) that died in police cells. The Home Office records this information on a yearly basis; 1 April to 31 March.
	Every death that occurs in prison or following contact with the police is a tragedy and is treated with the utmost seriousness by the Government, and the Prison and Police Services. On 31 March 2004, I announced the outline suicide prevention strategy for prisons that can be summarised as, 'Reducing distress and promoting the well-being of all who live and work in prisons.' This follows extensive consultations including those with the Howard League, Prison Reform Trust, Inquest, the Youth Justice Board, Prisons and Probations Ombudsman, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, Samaritans and the Department of Health.
	This builds on the three-year Safer Custody strategy that ran from April 2001, which was geared towards making progress in resettlement, detoxification, health, and purposeful activity, as well as staff outlooks, leadership and training. Key achievements were the placement of Suicide Prevention Co-ordinators (or equivalents) operating in all prisons, an investment of over £21 million at six 'Safer Local' pilot sites, and the development of safer prison design, including 'safer cells.'
	Police forces are also working hard to ensure that all possible measures are in place to minimise the risks relating to suicide and self-harm. The care, assessment and monitoring of detainees are a top priority, custody facilities have been made safer and training and CCTV monitoring has been improved.
	The Home Office, Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the National Centre for Policing Excellence (NCPE) have set up a Project Group to develop and disseminate policy and best practice on the safer handling of detainees in order to prevent deaths in custody. The Project Group hopes to publish this guidance in January 2006, following consultation with practitioners within the CJS and health/medical disciples.